Education Guide School

All children who live in Saxony and have their habitual residence in Saxony must go to school. Compulsory schooling is laid down in the Saxon School Act (SächsSchulG). Compulsory schooling in Saxony lasts a total of 12 years. In Saxony, full-time school attendance at a general education school is compulsory for 9 years. After full-time compulsory schooling, there is compulsory vocational schooling. This usually lasts 3 years.

Compulsory schooling is the same for all children. There is no difference between German and foreign children. Compulsory schooling applies to all subjects. There is only a choice between ethics and religion and between different languages. Compulsory schooling also applies to physical education and swimming lessons. Hiking days, school trips and project days are also compulsory for all children. If a child does not take part in these events, they must attend lessons in another class.

For children of asylum seekers and refugees, compulsory school attendance in Saxony begins as soon as they are assigned to a municipality, regardless of their residence status and prospects of staying.

There are many different schools in Germany. There are differences in the individual federal states. There are public and independent schools. Most schools are public, which means that the city or municipality is responsible for the school. Attending a public school is free of charge. In independent schools, there are often monthly school fees. Independent schools are run by churches, charities or associations, for example. The school fees are different at each independent school.

In Saxony there are the following schools:

Elementary school: 1st to 4th grade

Secondary school: 5th to 9th/10th grade

Vocational grammar school: 11th to 13th grade

Grammar school: 5th to 12th grade

All children go to elementary school first. In Saxony, children attend elementary school for 4 years. Children usually attend elementary school from the age of 6 or 7. Here the children learn reading, writing and arithmetic. They paint, sing and do sports. They also learn social skills, i.e. how to argue without violence, get along and help others. At the end of elementary school, the children receive an "educational recommendation". This is a suggestion from the class teacher as to which secondary school is the right one for your child.

After elementary school, all children go to a secondary school. Here the children will learn even more. You decide together with your child which secondary school will be the best place for your child to learn. You must register your child at the secondary school. There are different secondary schools:

At secondary school, children study for 5 or 6 years. At secondary school, children can obtain a Hauptschulabschluss (after a total of 9 school years) or a Realschulabschluss (after a total of 10 school years). Those who have achieved a Realschulabschluss with good or very good results can acquire the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) at the Berufliches Gymnasium.

If a child has done particularly well at elementary school, they can attend a grammar school. Children study at a grammar school for 8 years. The school-leaving certificate at a grammar school (after a total of 12 school years) is called the Allgemeine Hochschulreife. Another name is "Abitur".

TIP: Find out about the schools in or near your place of residence. You can also use the Internet. Many schools have their own website. Many schools also offer an "open day" once a year. On this day, you can take a look at the school together with your child and get information directly on site at the school.

Further information on the school system in Saxony can be found at

https://www.schule.sachsen.de/saechsisches-schulsystem-3979.html

Help with finding schools in Saxony can be found at

https://schuldatenbank.sachsen.de/index.php?id=10

The teachers at school check the children's attendance every day. If a child misses lessons without a reason or without signing out, the parents or the children (aged 14 and over) must expect a penalty. There are fines or social work hours. In addition, the youth welfare office will be informed because the child's welfare is at risk.

Days of absence without an excuse are noted on the report card. Many days of absence can also lead to a child having to repeat a grade.

ATTENTION: As parents, you are responsible for ensuring that your child goes to school every day and is at school on time at the start of lessons!

Children with a recognized disability or children with physical, mental, social and emotional disabilities need special care and support. For this reason, there are special schools. These schools are called special schools. They have teachers with special training. The lessons are adapted to the needs of the children. There are special schools with different focuses, for example learning, vision, hearing, mental development, emotional and social development or physical and motor development. The children attend these schools depending on their needs.

Children develop differently. Not every conspicuous behavior is a sign of a special need for support. The educators at the daycare center or the teachers at the school will talk to you if your child is developing differently from other children. It must then first be investigated whether a child has special educational needs. This can also be done before your child starts school. A report is first drawn up for this purpose. The child's behavior is observed. Discussions are held with the children and their parents. A decision is then made as to whether a child needs special support and where and how it can best be provided.

ATTENTION: Children and young people with special educational needs are also required to attend school!

Children with a recognized disability or children with physical, mental, social and emotional disabilities can be taught at a special school or inclusively at an elementary school or secondary school (secondary school, grammar school).

If certain requirements are met, children with and without special educational needs are taught together.

Tip: Not every school offers inclusive education! If school admission is not possible, the head teacher will recommend another school.

When children start school and do not yet speak German, they must first learn German. In order to learn German first, there are separate "preparatory classes" in Saxony. The abbreviation for this is "VK". The preparatory classes are for children whose native language is not German and who still have problems speaking, writing or reading. There are preparatory classes at elementary school and secondary schools. The children learn "German as a second language" in the preparatory class. The abbreviation for this is "DaZ".

The children learn the language in 3 stages. In the first stage, they learn the German letters and everyday language. When they can communicate in simple German, the 2nd stage begins. The children continue to learn German most of the time in the preparatory class. However, they gradually take part in normal lessons. In the 3rd level, the children are then fully integrated into normal lessons. In the preparatory class, they only learn the technical language for lessons in special subjects.

ATTENTION: Not every school has preparatory classes. Please find out whether a school offers preparatory classes before registering!

Tip: At school, children receive special tickets to travel to school by bus or train free of charge. Please ask at the school where these tickets are available.

Immigrant families and parents register their children and young people via https://www.schulportal.sachsen.de/bildungsberatung/ for the school. They then receive an invitation from a school where special educational counseling is provided. During a personal interview, you will receive information about the different types of schools in Saxony and about the recognition of school years attended or certificates from the country of origin.

For questions about the registration portal and special educational counseling:

Contact:

State Office for Schools and Education, Chemnitz site LaSuB

Telephone: 0371 5366-0

E-Mail: poststelle-c@lasub.smk.sachsen.de

Internet: https://www.lasub.smk.sachsen.de/chemnitz-3966.html

Cooperation between parents and teachers is very important. According to the law, they should work together as partners in upbringing and education and support each other. Regular discussions and information about the child's behavior and performance in class are important foundations of parental work. For this reason, parents should not only regularly attend parents' evenings and parent-teacher conferences, but also take part in offers or activities at school. Parents' evenings take place at the beginning of the new school year and approximately twice during the school year. At the parents' evenings, parents receive all important information about the current school year, dates, materials or problems in the class from the class teacher. Parents can also ask questions at parents' evenings. The class teacher is the most important contact person for parents.

Tip: The school or teachers often invite parents to an appointment in writing. Look out for entries in the homework booklet or separate letters of invitation.

ATTENTION: If you do not yet speak German, you will need to organize a translation for communication with the school and teachers!

Does your child have problems and conflicts at school? Is your child being insulted or excluded? Does your child feel uncomfortable in class? Do you have difficulties getting in touch with the teachers? Then you or your child can get help from a school social worker. School social workers are educational professionals with special training. They work in the school and are responsible, for example, for

• Counseling and help

• Preventing violence and conflicts

• working with parents and children

• Support with projects and activities at school

• Support with career guidance

ATTENTION: Not every school has school social workers. Find out from the school whether this service is available to help with questions and problems!

The Saxon School Act (SächsSchulG) states that all children who live in Saxony and turn 6 years old by June 30 of the current calendar year are required to attend school.

Before a child can go to school, it must be registered at a school. Registration for elementary school usually takes place from August to September in the year before a child turns 6. The time and place of registration is announced publicly. Parents receive the information, for example, from the daycare center (Kita for short) or in the newspaper "Amtsblatt". You can also find the Amtsblatt online on the website of the town or municipality. When registering, parents must bring the child's birth certificate, a custody declaration and the vaccination card.

Parents choose an elementary school in their school district. Registration for a public school takes place at the responsible city or municipal administration. If a child is to attend an independent school, registration takes place directly at the school.

ATTENTION: If your child has already attended school in their country of origin for several years and is older than 9 or 10 years, for example, they may have to attend a secondary school. Registration is also carried out at the responsible city or municipal administration or directly at the school.

Tip: To find the right school for your child or to check the recognition of their school education in their country of origin, you can also get help from the special education advice service! (See chapter 1)

By law, all children must have a school entrance examination before starting school. You will be given an appointment for the examination. The examination takes place at the daycare center (Kita for short), the school or at the public health department. The examination is carried out by a special doctor from the public health department. At least one parent must attend the examination to answer the doctor's questions. You will be informed of the results of the examination. If the doctor finds any abnormalities, you will be referred to another doctor or advised on support measures, for example.

The examination is free of charge. The doctor will examine your child's development and all areas that are important for school attendance. This includes, for example

• Height and weight

• Visual and hearing abilities

• Movement (balance)

• speech

• Logical thinking

• vaccinations

Tip: Ask for more information at the daycare center, when registering for school or at the health department!

Contact:

Central Saxony District Office
Department of pediatric and adolescent medical services
Telephone: 03731 799-6437
E-Mail: gesundheit@landkreis-mittelsachsen.de
Internet: https://www.landkreis-mittelsachsen.de/das-amt/buergerservice/schulaufnahme-untersuchung.html

Since 01.03.2020, all children must be vaccinated against measles. This vaccination is compulsory. If your child has not been vaccinated against measles, the school will inform the public health department. The public health department will contact you. If you do not vaccinate your child against measles, you may be fined.

Vaccinations can protect children against many infectious diseases. For example, against measles, rubella or chickenpox. After vaccination, every child receives a vaccination card. The doctor enters all vaccinations there. There is a vaccination calendar. In it, parents can read when and against which diseases a child can receive a vaccination. The vaccination calendar is available on the website of the Robert Koch Institute in 20 different languages at https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/Impfen/Materialien/Impfkalender_mehrsprachig_Uebersicht_tab.html

For persons entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG), all vaccinations can be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) without a cost commitment. The vaccine is obtained via a patient-specific prescription at the expense of the cost bearer. Billing is based on the fee schedule items of the Saxony Vaccination Agreement.

There is a tradition in Germany. When a child starts school, they receive a "Schultüte". Another name is "Zuckertüte". The Zuckertüte is a colorful bag with small gifts, materials for school and sweets. It shows the child that the first day of school is something special. The child also receives a school bag (special rucksack). The child needs the school bag to carry all the materials for school.

There is a celebration at school. This day is also called "school enrollment" or "start of school". At this ceremony, the children meet their class teacher and the other children in their class for the first time.

The start of school takes place on a Saturday in August or September. It is always the last Saturday before the new school year begins. This means that many guests can come to the party. The start of school is a very important celebration, not only for the child, but for the whole family.

Before your child starts school, you need to buy all the important materials for the lessons. This includes, for example

• lunch box

• drinking bottle

• pencil case

• Ink pen/fountain pen

• Pens (pencils, colored pencils, felt-tip pens)

• Pencil sharpener and eraser

• Ruler/ geometry triangle

• Homework book

• Exercise books/ paper (lined/ squared)

• Scissors, glue stick (glue)

• Brush and paint box (oil paints or watercolors)

• Sports bag (special sports shoes with light-colored soles, long and short sportswear)

• Slippers

• Special clothing for the outdoor break (e.g. rubber boots, rainwear, winter clothing)

Parents are responsible for purchasing the correct materials for the school and grade level. If you have little or no income or receive state social benefits, you can receive financial help to buy school materials. (See chapter 5)

Children receive their school books free of charge at school. However, these textbooks are only borrowed and usually have to be returned at the end of each school year.

Tip: The school will help you with questions and problems!

The first few weeks at school are very exciting for your child. You can help your child to get used to the new situation. For example:

• Create a plan for the day together with your child.It is best to prepare the school bag together with your child the evening before. Pack everything your child will need for school the next day. This way, the school day can begin without stress.

• Make sure that your child gets enough sleep and does not go to bed too late.

  Children in elementary school usually need 10 to 12 hours of sleep.

• Breakfast is also important. Your child should eat something before going to school. Many children are hungry after the first two hours. Give your child a drink and something healthy to eat for the breaks, for example sandwiches, vegetables or fruit. This is the only way they can stay focused until the lunch break.

• Also practise walking to school with your child so that they feel safe!

School starts between 7:30 am and 9:00 am. Lessons usually take place in the morning. They are spread evenly over the 5 days of the week. In elementary school, children have 4 to 6 lessons a day. At secondary school or grammar school, children have 6 to 10 lessons a day. One lesson lasts 45 minutes. There are breaks of varying lengths between lessons.

All children are given a timetable. The timetable shows when lessons start and which subjects are taught that day. The timetable is always valid for one school year.

The school year begins on August 1 and ends on July 31 of the following calendar year. The school is closed during vacations and public vacations. For example, there are fall vacations, winter vacations and summer vacations. Public holidays include New Year's Day, Whitsun, German Unity Day, Reformation Day and the Day of Prayer and Repentance.

Tip: Parents should know their child's timetable and keep themselves regularly informed about changes! Only then can you be sure that your child has all the necessary materials for the various subjects every day.

The following subjects are taught in elementary school:

• German

• Mathematics

  _________________

• English (1st foreign language)

• General studies (only in elementary school)

• Art/drawing

• music

• (Christian) religion or ethics (optional)

• handicrafts

• Sport (including swimming lessons)

ATTENTION: Physical education is compulsory for all children. Swimming lessons are compulsory for all children, which means it is regulated by law! It is important that children learn to swim. Only then can they move safely in and around the water!

In secondary school or grammar school, for example, the following subjects are also taught:

• Biology

• chemistry

• physics

• history

• geography

• Social studies

• Computer science

• Other foreign languages (e.g. choice between French, Russian, Latin)

Children are given homework to repeat and practise what the teacher has explained in class or to prepare for the next lesson. They are expected to complete this work at home. Homework is compulsory. It is entered in the homework booklet and checked in the next lesson.

ATTENTION: You should make sure that your child does his/her homework. For this reason, you should check the homework booklet regularly!

Your child's performance is assessed with a grade. There are no grades in Year 1. From Year 2 onwards, there are grades in the subjects German, mathematics and general studies. From Year 3, there are grades in all subjects. One exception is English. English is only graded from Year 4 onwards. There are grades for written, oral and practical work in every subject. The best grade is 1 and the worst grade is 6. The following grades are awarded for performance:

1 - very good performance

2 - good performance

3 - satisfactory performance

4 - adequate performance

5 - poor performance

6 - unsatisfactory performance

Behavior, diligence, cooperation and order are also graded. These grades describe, for example

• whether your child listens in class

• whether your child participates in class

• whether your child does their homework regularly

• whether your child always brings all materials to class

• how tidy the exercise books and books look

• how your child interacts with other children

• how your child behaves towards the teachers

• whether your child can resolve conflicts

After the first half of the school year (usually in February), the children receive a half-year report for their parents. At the end of the school year, the children receive a report card. The report contains grades in all subjects. Parents must sign the half-year information and the report card.

ATTENTION: If the report card shows a grade 6 or several grades of 5, the child will not be promoted to the next grade and will have to repeat the grade! If your child is not promoted, this is not a punishment. Sometimes children need a little more time to understand the learning content in the subjects.

If your child is ill, they should not go to school! You must inform the school on the same day, before lessons start, that your child will not be coming to school. It is best to inform the school by telephone. However, you can also write a letter. You must hand this letter into the school on the same day, before lessons start.

If your child is ill for a longer period of time, you must go to the doctor. The doctor will issue a medical certificate. You must hand this certificate in to the school. Your child is not allowed to attend school for the period stated on the certificate.

Tip: Ask the school whether it is also possible to cancel a sick note by e-mail.

If your child has an important doctor's appointment and therefore cannot go to school, the doctor will give you a written excuse. You must hand this excuse in to the school.

If your child is unable to attend school for other reasons (for example, a religious festival, a wedding or a death in the family), you must speak to the class teacher or school management beforehand. You must write an excuse in advance and give the reasons why your child cannot go to school. The school will then decide whether your child will be granted time off.

ATTENTION: You are obliged to inform the school if your child cannot go to school!

Tip:If your child goes to after-school care and takes part in lunch, you must also deregister your child at the after-school care center and with the food provider!

In Germany, there is a duty of notification. This means that you must inform the school or the class teacher if your child is ill or needs other special support. Parents must inform the school in writing of the following

• Allergies and intolerances

• notifiable illnesses (e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, fever, lice)

• Medication for emergencies

• Medication for a chronic illness

• Other special features

Tip: If you are not sure, talk to your class teacher or another teacher at school! They will help you with any questions!

Many elementary school have an after-school care center. The after-school care center is a place where children are looked after before or after school. If the parents go to work very early, the children can also attend the after-school care center before school (for example at 06:00). In the after-school care center, the children can eat lunch, do homework, play with other children or do arts and crafts. The children can also relax in the after-school care center. After-school care can also be attended during the vacations. Parents decide whether their child should attend an after-school care center. The offer is voluntary.

The children are not alone in the after-school care center. The children are looked after by educators, which means that both men and women work in an after-school care center. The educators have special training. During their training, they learn what children need, how to support children and how children develop. The educators have the task of accompanying and supporting the children in their learning.

Each after-school care center has fixed opening hours. The contract stipulates how many hours a day your child can go to the after-school care center. You must collect your child from after-school care on time!

Tip: There are schools that offer additional activities after school. These activities are called "Ganztagsangebote". The abbreviation is "GTA". The activities are different at each school. For example, the children can dance, act, sing, learn chess, pottery or learn different languages or sports (e.g. soccer, karate, basketball, volleyball). Ask the school if there are any other special afternoon activities!

To get an after-school care place, you must first register your child and submit an application. The prerequisite for this is that there are enough after-school care places available. It is therefore important that you find out about the local after-school care options in good time. After-school care is only available for children in elementary school (1st to 4th grade).

Registration should be made together with school registration. Information on registration and the application can be obtained directly from the school or from the city or municipal administration.

After successful registration, you will be given an appointment to sign the childcare contract. There is a lot of important information in the contract that you must observe.

ATTENTION: If you do not yet speak German, you will need to organize a translation for the registration and discussions with the after-school care manager!

Eating and drinking is very important for your child's concentration in class. During the breaks between lessons, the children can eat and drink what they have brought from home.

Tip: Ask the school how lunch is organized and what you need to bear in mind!

If there is a meal service at school, the children can eat lunch at school or in the after-school care center. Lunch costs money. Parents must sign a contract with the food provider and receive an invoice every month. There is usually a menu for the coming weeks. The children can choose what they want to eat. There are different dishes. If a child will not be attending lunch, the meal should be canceled. Then you do not have to pay for the meal on that day.

Tip: Contact the meal provider, teachers or educators if your child cannot or is not allowed to eat food for religious reasons or due to intolerances.

If you have little or no income or receive state benefits, you can receive financial help for school lunches. (See chapter 5)

In Germany, there is a duty of supervision. This means that parents, teachers or educators must look after their children and protect them from danger. The safety of your children is very important! That's why you need to make a decision and clarify this in the school or after-school care center:

• Who will pick up your child from school or after-school care?

• Will your child go home alone after school or after after-school care or will you or another person (for example: grandma, grandpa, sister, aunt, uncle) pick them up?

ATTENTION: You must inform the school and the after-school care center in writing whether your child may go home alone or which persons may pick up your child. Your child may not leave the school or after-school care center without your written permission!

Parents must pay for after-school care. The monthly costs for an after-school care place are called the "parental contribution". Parents must pay the parental contribution regularly and punctually. Parents are informed of the amount of the monthly costs. These costs vary. The amount of the parental contribution depends on how many hours a day a child attends after-school care, whether a mother or father looks after the child alone and whether there are siblings in other after-school care facilities, day-care centers (Kita for short) or in day care (for example with a childminder).

You can get financial help if you have little or no income or receive one of the following state benefits:

• Money from the job center

• Money from the social welfare office

• Asylum seeker benefits (AsylbLG)

• Child allowance

• Housing benefit

In order to receive help with financing the parental contribution, you must submit an application to the Central Saxony District Office in the "Child day care and support" department. This application is called "Antrag auf Übernahme des Elternbeitrages".

Contact:

Central Saxony District Office
Youth and Family Department
Child day care and support department

Telephone: 03731 799-6258
E-Mail: jugend.familie@landkreis-mittelsachsen.de
Internet: www.landkreis-mittelsachsen.de/das-amt/buergerservice/elternbeitraege-fuer-krippe-kindergarten-hort-und-kindertagespflege.html

There is further financial assistance. Benefits for education and participation. This assistance is also known colloquially as the "education package". You can apply for the education package if you receive one of the following state benefits:

• Money from the Jobcenter

• Money from the social welfare office

• Asylum seeker benefits (AsylbLG)

• Child allowance

• Housing benefit

To receive financial help from the education package, you must submit an application. A separate application must be made for each request. If a child attends school and after-school care, the education package provides, for example

• Money for lunch at school or after-school care:

  Lunch is then free of charge. Parents do not have to pay anything. Lunch is not paid for during the vacations.

• Money for school materials:

  Parents can receive a total of 156 euros as support to buy school materials for their child. You will receive 65 euros for the first half of the school year and 130 euros for the second half.

• Money for tutoring (help with learning):

  Children with learning problems or children who want to improve their school performance can receive financial help for tutoring.

• Money for transportation to school:

  If your child has to travel to school by bus or train, the cost of tickets can be paid. The costs are only paid if the journey to school is longer than 2 kilometers.

• Money for excursions and trips with the school:

  The costs of excursions or trips can be paid.

• Money for leisure activities:

  Parents can receive €15 per month to enable a child to attend a sports club or music school in their free time, for example.

If you receive money from the Jobcenter every month, you must submit an application to the Jobcenter Mittelsachsen.

Contact:

Jobcenter Mittelsachsen
Telephone: 03727 9966-900
E-mail: jobcenter-mittelsachsen@jobcenter-ge.de
Internet: https://www.landkreis-mittelsachsen.de/das-amt/behoerden/jobcenter-mittelsachsen.html#c3616

Families who receive money each month from the social welfare office, housing benefit, child supplement or asylum seeker benefits must submit an application to the Central Saxony District Office.

Contact:

Central Saxony District Office
Department of Social Affairs
Department for subsistence assistance and basic income support
Telephone: 03731 799-0
E-Mail: bildungundteilhabe@landkreis-mittelsachsen.de
Internet: www.landkreis-mittelsachsen.de/das-amt/buergerservice/bildungspaket-leistungen-fuer-bildung-und-teilhabe-empfaenger-von-sozialhilfe-kinderzuschlag-wohngeld.html

District Office of Central Saxony
Department for Foreigners and Asylum Affairs
Staff unit for asylum seeker benefits
Telephone: 03731 799-3600
E-Mail: auslaenderbehoerde@landkreis-mittelsachsen.de
Internet: www.landkreis-mittelsachsen.de/das-amt/behoerdenaufbau/stabsbereich-asylbewerberleistungen.html

There are various school-leaving qualifications in Germany. Depending on which school-leaving qualification is achieved, there are different options for continuing your education, starting an apprenticeship or going to university. The following school-leaving qualifications are available in Saxony:

Hauptschulabschluss and Realabschluss:

With the Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss, children can start vocational training after school. The Hauptschulabschluss can be used to learn mainly manual trades, such as painting, varnishing, baking, geriatric nursing or other professions. With the Realschulabschluss, the choice of professions is greater, for example: dental technician, social assistant, office clerk and many more.

With a secondary school certificate, children can also attend a technical secondary school or a vocational grammar school where they can obtain the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur). With this qualification, a child can then start studying at a university of applied sciences or university.

General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur):

With the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur), children can study at university or a university of applied sciences directly after leaving school. However, they can also start an apprenticeship and learn a trade.

Without a qualification:

If a child does not obtain a school-leaving certificate, they can take a vocational preparation year (BVJ) to catch up on their secondary school leaving certificate. Your child should have a school-leaving certificate. Without a school-leaving certificate, it is more difficult to find an apprenticeship. Without training, it is more difficult to find a well-paid job. Often only jobs with very low pay remain.

ATTENTION: After secondary school, children are still required to attend vocational school until they are 18 years old. If children do not attend a technical secondary school or vocational grammar school after completing secondary general school or secondary modern school, they must complete vocational training at a vocational school or obtain a vocational qualification at a vocational college!

It is a very difficult decision for your child to choose an apprenticeship, a profession or a course of study. Support your child in this! There are many advice centers (for example the careers advice service at the employment agency) and careers fairs (for example "Schule macht Betrieb"). These offers help with orientation and career choice. The school also offers special information on career orientation. It is important that your child likes the career they choose.

Your child should make this choice at least one year before leaving school. Most companies and many vocational schools, technical colleges and universities require children to apply for an apprenticeship or university place a year in advance!

Has your child finished school and doesn't yet know what they want to continue learning or studying? Then there are various options, for example a "Voluntary Social Year (FSJ)", a "Vocational Preparation Year (BVJ)" or a "Federal Voluntary Service". During this time, your child can

• try out a professional field

• gain practical experience

• get to know their own strengths and weaknesses

• receive a letter of recommendation or certificate

You can find more information at

https://www.bundes-freiwilligendienst.de/fsj-freiwilliges-soziales-jahr/

https://www.schule.sachsen.de/berufsbildende-schulen-6228.html