Research Reveals: Inadequate Proficiency in German Language Impacts School Grades
The issue at hand isn't immigration, but rather the insufficient integration of kids from economically disadvantaged families, pointed out INSM Managing Director Thorsten Alsleben. This overlooks a vast demographic resource.
Adolescents with a migration background underperform in mathematics, science, and reading if their parents possess lesser qualifications. The scarcity of books at home and inadequate German language interaction contribute to the issue. However, the migration background itself carries minimal impact.
Young immigrants are less likely to be read to at home and attend kindergarten less frequently. The hurdles are more substantial for kids who moved themselves. About 40% of these children don't have a proficient German-speaking parent, and they often lack a private space for homework.
Moreover, 54% of these 15-year-olds attend schools where over half of their peers share a migration background, contrasting with only 28% of children without a migration background.
The study reveals a "concerning pattern" in the promotion of migrant children in kindergartens. The proportion of children with a migration background in kindergartens between the ages of 3 and 6 decreased from 85% in 2013 to 78% in 2022, while the proportion of children without a migration background increased from 98% to 100%.
Study leader Axel Plünnecke regretted the unrealized opportunity. "Over 40% of children under 15 have a migration background," explained the education economist at the Institute of the German Economy (IW), which produced the Education Monitor on behalf of INSM. "Immigration thus offers a significant chance to tackle the challenge of ensuring a skilled workforce."
INSM Managing Director Alsleben also attacked education policy. "We have a vast potential here that could help us overcome the challenges of our aging society. But politics isn't giving it enough attention."
INSM and IW recommended identifying children with language deficiencies nationally at the age of 4 through compulsory tests. These deficiencies should be addressed before the children start school. Furthermore, integration expert Ahmad Mansour advocated for a kindergarten obligation for children with language deficiencies and targeted support for schools in problematic areas.
Children who want to excel in their studies benefitting from the 'Knowledge of German' could greatly advantage from early language exposure. Addressing the language deficiencies of young immigrants through compulsory tests at the age of 4, as suggested by integration expert Ahmad Mansour, could potentially lead to improved integration and academic performance.
Insufficient knowledge of German among young immigrants may hinder their academic progress and limit their ability to integrate successfully, emphasizing the importance of the 'Knowledge of German' in overcoming integration challenges.
