Weekly updates from the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
Germany's education system and start-up landscape have shown resilience and adaptability in the face of the pandemic and economic uncertainties.
According to the Education in Germany 2022 report, the country's internationally recognised dual education system continues to thrive, with approximately 50% of secondary students participating in apprenticeship programs. This system, which combines classroom learning with vocational training, has helped Germany maintain a 99% adult literacy rate and invest around 5% of its GDP in education. The focus is on modernising STEM labs, infrastructure, and teacher development to ensure workforce readiness and academic quality.
The education sector has seen a significant growth since 2010, with over a fifth more employees now working in education. The largest increase has been observed in kindergartens, where the number of establishments has risen by 75%.
To support schools in socially disadvantaged areas, the federal and state governments have launched the Startchancen-Programm, aiming to assist around 4,000 general and vocational schools.
In the start-up sector, activity rebounded strongly in 2021, with 607,000 new businesses launched, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. There has been a notable shift towards digital and internet-based business models, and entrepreneurship has become younger and more female-oriented. However, the venture capital market experienced a downturn in early 2022 due to inflation, interest rate hikes, and geopolitical uncertainties, particularly linked to the war-related economic volatility.
To address this, the federal government has committed to providing 10 billion euros for start-ups in their growth phase through KfW by 2030. The government has also launched a start-up strategy with ten fields of action to further support the start-up ecosystem.
In an effort to reduce plastic waste, a single-use plastic fund will be established at the Federal Environment Agency. Plastic manufacturers will pay a single-use plastic levy, with the funds used to support waste management and recycling initiatives. A single-use plastic commission will also be established, consisting of representatives from various sectors.
The skills strategy aims to attract and secure skilled workers to strengthen the innovation and performance capability of the economy in Germany. The strategy also focuses on promoting equal opportunities for women, with the federal government committing to a skills policy that contributes to the equal treatment of women and men, particularly aiming to increase the employment rate of women.
The current report on the federal government's human rights policy covers the period from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022. It addresses various topics, including human rights and digitalization, climate change and human rights, and combating sexual abuse.
The federal government is also introducing a bill to implement the directive on reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products, adopted at EU level in June 2019.
Since 2006, around 9,400 additional kindergartens have been created in Germany, reflecting the government's commitment to early education and development.
These initiatives highlight Germany's ongoing efforts to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances, maintaining a strong focus on education, start-ups, and sustainability.
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