Berlin Education
Accommodations | Dining | Education | Museums | Nightlife
The City of Berlin, Germany is known all over the world as one of the premium arenas for education in all of Europe. The city has more than 870 schools teaching over 350 students every year. It also attracts thousands of foreign students because aside from the sheer amount and high quality of research and educational institutions in the city alone, there also exists the fact that free education is also available from preschool until post graduate school, not just for German citizens but for foreign students as well.
The weight of responsibility of educating its residents falls primarily on local government bodies, while the federal government of German provides only a minor role in the country's educational system. Thus, the different states in Germany may have certain differences in terms of education and the local educational system.
Berlin's educational system is also quite different from that in the United States. Compulsory education starts at around age 6 or 7 and continues until age 17 to 19. A child would have to take 6 years of primary school, followed by six more of secondary education. At the age of 10-12 year old, children in Germany would undergo an aptitude test which would determine where in the four types of secondary schools they would be placed in. When placed in Hauptshule or Realshule, the child would be emerged in vocational and technical education, those in a Gymnasium in academics while those in a Gesemtschule receive both vocational and academic training.
University education and higher education in Berlin is also seen through a very positive light. The city is home to numerous colleges and technical schools, not to mention four very prestigious universities. These four Berlin universities include the Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin), the Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), the Humboldt University of Berlin (Humboldt Universität zu Berlin) and the Berlin University of the Arts (Universität der Künste, Berlin).
Although not exactly required in the United States, the internship programs in many American universities greatly benefit the students who need experience and the different industries that need educated professionals. Something like this also exists in Berlin's educational system which has its roots founded in the guild system of the middle ages. This internship or apprenticeship program helps provide different Berlin industries and companies with youthful and fresh minds and ideas and at the same time, allows students to gain professional experience.
