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EDUCATION

German kids enjoy ‘back to school’ traditions

As the first German youngsters wave goodbye to the 2015 summer holidays and return gamely to the school gates, The Local looks at what this summer's first-graders can get excited about as they begin their primary school years.

Published: 12 August 2015 08:00 CEST
German kids enjoy 'back to school' traditions
Photo: DPA

By mid-August, most UK pupils still have another three weeks of sunshine, lie-ins and days at Nana and Granddad's house stretching ahead of them.

Yet for schoolchildren in North Rhine-Westphalia, the summer holidays draw to an untimely close this week.

It's a shock to the system for everyone, no doubt – but especially for those donning the satchels for the very first time this year.

Starting school is a big deal in Germany.  And there are a few things that German youngsters in particular can look forward to as they enter the classroom for the first time.

Enrolment Day

If you've ever spotted German youngsters heading off on their very first day at primary school, you'll probably have been a bit confused at first.

Don't panic. It is definitely a Saturday.

The “Einschulung” – or school enrolment day – is an important event for parents, teachers and new pupils, and often takes place on a Saturday.

During the day, there will likely be a special church service, as well as an official enrolment ceremony attended by parents and other close family members.

The School principal often gives a speech, and older students perform songs and poems.

It's a day of celebration that continues long after the school bell rings, with families often gathering together for meals and parties in the afternoon.

A sweet surprise

On Einschulung day, the youngsters are also presented with their very own Schultüte (“School Bag”).

Also known as a Zuckertüte (“Sugar Bag”), this is perhaps the most exciting and unique part of the German school enrolment process.

Each child receives a giant plastic or paper cone filled with all manner of goodies.

Photo: DPA

From sweets and treats, to essential school supplies like crayons, pencils and books, the Schultüte is a colourful bag of surprises for each proud new school pupil.

This tradition dates back to the early 1800s in Saxony and Thuringia. Starting in the larger cities, it quickly spread, becoming an integral part of school enrolment across Germany.

Satchels with a history

Another traditional item on the enrolment day shopping list?

The carefully chosen Schulranzen (school satchel).

Today's Schulranzen are descendents of the original German Tornister bags – military backpacks originating in the 17th century and traditionally made out of leather stretched over a wooden frame.

In 1975, the type of Schulranzen popular today came onto the market. Made of light plastic, with wide straps and reflectors, the bags are designed with safety and convenience in mind.

Photo: DPA

With their very own Schulranzen and bulging Schultüte, this year's new pupils across Germany will likely be pretty enthusiastic as they head off on the next stage of their lives.

Let's hope the excitement continues once lessons get underway.

Written by Hannah Butler

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EDUCATION

Inquiry calls for free after-school care for 6-9 year-olds in Sweden

Children between ages 6-9 years should be allowed admittance to after-school recreation centers free of charge, according to a report submitted to Sweden’s Minister of Education Lotta Edholm (L).

Published: 29 November 2022 15:54 CET
Inquiry calls for free after-school care for 6-9 year-olds in Sweden

“If this reform is implemented, after-school recreation centers will be accessible to the children who may have the greatest need for the activities,” said Kerstin Andersson, who was appointed to lead a government inquiry into expanding access to after-school recreation by the former Social Democrat government. 

More than half a million primary- and middle-school-aged children spend a large part of their school days and holidays in after-school centres.

But the right to after-school care is not freely available to all children. In most municipalities, it is conditional on the parent’s occupational status of working or studying. Thus, attendance varies and is significantly lower in areas where unemployment is high and family finances weak.

In this context, the previous government formally began to inquire into expanding rights to leisure. The report was recently handed over to Sweden’s education minister, Lotta Edholm, on Monday.

Andersson proposed that after-school activities should be made available free of charge to all children between the ages of six and nine in the same way that preschool has been for children between the ages of three and five. This would mean that children whose parents are unemployed, on parental leave or long-term sick leave will no longer be excluded. 

“The biggest benefit is that after-school recreation centres will be made available to all children,” Andersson said. “Today, participation is highest in areas with very good conditions, while it is lower in sparsely populated areas and in areas with socio-economic challenges.” 

Enforcing this proposal could cause a need for about 10,200 more places in after-school centre, would cost the state just over half a billion kronor a year, and would require more adults to work in after-school centres. 

Andersson recommends recruiting staff more broadly, and not insisting that so many staff are specialised after-school activities teachers, or fritidspedagod. 

“The Education Act states that qualified teachers are responsible for teaching, but that other staff may participate,” Andersson said. “This is sometimes interpreted as meaning that other staff may be used, but preferably not’. We propose that recognition be given to so-called ‘other staff’, and that they should be given a clear role in the work.”

She suggested that people who have studied in the “children’s teaching and recreational programmes” at gymnasium level,  people who have studied recreational training, and social educators might be used. 

“People trained to work with children can contribute with many different skills. Right now, it might be an uncertain work situation for many who work for a few months while the employer is looking for qualified teachers”, Andersson said. 

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