Germany concerned over poor math, science skills

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, fourth from left, and Minister-President of Brandenburg Dietmar Woidke, third from right, sits with children and educator Maria Stoecker, center, during a visit of a kindergarten in Potsdam, Germany, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap

Berlin — German Education Minister Karin Prien described the poor performance of secondary school pupils in maths and the sciences revealed in a recent survey as cause for concern during a press conference held in Berlin on Thursday.

"This is a warning sign that should be taken seriously — for our society as a whole," Prien said. A national effort was needed to find a suitable answer to the survey's results and the results of previous studies, she said.

"Schools on their own will no longer be able to resolve these major challenges," she said.

Prien called for constructive cooperation between all involved, from government, administration, daycare centres, youth offices, families and educators outside schools, up to the colleges responsible for teacher training.

She noted that measures had already been taken, but their effects were not yet showing.

Prien referred to government programmes and the introduction of a right to whole-day schooling, which will take effect next year, along with improvements in early childhood education in promoting language abilities.

The IQB education survey recently published revealed growing deficits in maths and the sciences in secondary school pupils. It followed studies over recent years showing poor reading and arithmetical competencies in primary schools, along with declining German language skills.