The Saxon School System

In Saxony, as in the rest of Germany, children start school at the age of 6. Starting school is often a big family celebration at which the children receive gifts such as sugar cones filled with sweets. Similar to Uganda, there are different types of schools, starting with primary school, secondary school and grammar school. Pupils then have the opportunity to learn a profession or go to university. 
In addition to the free state schools, there are also private schools for all school types, which are run by the Protestant or Catholic Church, an association or a society. Private schools are allowed to charge school fees.
 

Primary school
Pupils attend primary school (Grundschule) for the first 4 years, where they learn basic skills such as reading, writing and maths. With around 20 pupils, classes are usually smaller than in other types of school.

The children learn in the morning and then either go home or are looked after in the after-school care centre in the afternoon. There they can do their homework or simply play with friends. 

At the end of primary school, the pupils receive a recommendation for secondary school from the school, i.e. whether they should attend secondary school or rather grammar school.

Secondary school
At the secondary school (Oberschule), students can complete two different school-leaving qualifications, the Hauptschulabschluss after year 9 or the Realschulabschluss after year 10. 
The students study general subjects as well as technical, business, language or artistic subjects and prepare for later vocational training.
The class size in the secondary school is around 25 to 30 students.

Grammar school
At grammar school (Gymnasium), students study from year 5 to year 12. At the end, they take exams in several subjects, the Abitur. The Abitur entitles them to study at a college or university. However, there are also some vocational training programmes for which the Abitur is required, such as bank clerk, media designer or laboratory technician.
Students can choose a grammar school with a language, science or art specialisation according to their individual interests. The size of the classes is similar to that of the secondary school.

Community school
The special thing about community schools (Gemeinschaftsschule) is that students continue to learn together at the same school after primary school and can, in principle, complete all of the above-mentioned school-leaving qualifications. 

Special school
This type of school aims to educate students with special educational needs and to enable them to lead as independent a life as possible. At a special school (Förderschule), students can complete a Hauptschule or Realschule qualification. They also have the option of transferring to one of the other types of school.

Inclusion
The system, which is divided into mainstream schools and special schools, has long been criticised for its unequal treatment of students. Students with special educational needs therefore also have the right to attend a regular primary, secondary or grammar school. The decision to do so lies with the parents.
The inclusive organisation of schools and lessons is a long process, the goal of which is equal opportunities for all students.

Vocational school
After completing general schooling, students have the opportunity to learn a profession in a dual system. Dual means that students attend a vocational school (Berufsschule) that provides them with theoretical knowledge for their chosen profession and at the same time they learn practical skills in a training company such as a hospital, a joinery or a law firm. An apprenticeship usually lasts two to three years.

University
The Abitur entitles students to study at a college or university/university of applied sciences. Depending on the degree programme, they can complete a three-year bachelor's degree or a diploma. The diploma degree is only offered in some degree programmes and takes around five years to complete. After the Bachelor's degree, there is also the option of completing a postgraduate programme that ends with a Master's degree.
Universities of applied sciences are generally more practice-oriented than universities and usually specialise in certain subject areas.

Education is the responsibility of the federal states
In Germany, education is the responsibility of the individual federal states. This is why there are a few differences from state to state. For example, students in Saxony go to school for a maximum of 12 years, while in North Rhine-Westphalia it is 13 years in some cases. The curricula are decided by the education ministries of the individual federal states and can differ from one another. 

The school year
The school year in Saxony begins in August and is divided into 2 semesters. The 1st half-year runs from August to February. Students receive their half-year reports in February. The 2nd half-year runs from the end of February/beginning of March to June/July. Students then have a 6-week summer holiday. The school holidays also vary from state to state. You can find out exactly when the school holidays are in Saxony here.

You can find detailed information on the Saxon school system in English here.

Photo: Wikipedia