Germany is now discussing a new idea that could change how students are placed in schools. Some leaders believe that too many immigrant children in one classroom makes it harder for everyone to learn, especially when many students don’t speak German well.
Karin Prien, a top education leader from the CDU party, said that classes should have no more than 30% to 40% of students from immigrant backgrounds.
What Do Other People Think About the Quota Plan?
Not everyone agrees with the idea. Some politicians, school heads, and community leaders say the plan is unfair. They think it will divide children by where they come from, instead of helping them learn together.
In big cities like Berlin and Hamburg, most students already come from immigrant families. One school principal said that 80% of her students have an immigrant background, so following a 30% rule would be nearly impossible.
Others say this plan might make immigrant children feel unwelcome or different from other students. It could also create more work for schools that already struggle with fewer teachers and resources.
Are Other Countries Doing the Same Thing?
Germany is not the first country to talk about this. Denmark has tried to do something similar. In some areas, they made sure no more than 50% of students in a class come from immigrant families. But the results were not very clear.
Italy also introduced a similar rule back in 2010. They made a 30% limit, but in reality, many schools could not follow it. It was hard to move students around because of distance and resources. So, the plan didn’t work well.
These examples show that just making a rule may not fix the real problems in education. Schools need proper support, teachers, and language programs to help every child succeed.
Why Are People Talking About This Now?
The topic became hot after Germany’s education scores dropped in global studies. Many German students are now doing worse in reading, math, and science than they did before. Some experts say this is partly because students with weak German skills struggle in regular classes.
When many students in the same class don’t speak German as their first language, the teacher has to slow down or spend more time explaining basic things. This affects the whole class. That’s why some believe having fewer immigrant-background children per class will help everyone do better.
What’s a Better Way to Help Immigrant Students?
Many education experts believe that instead of setting quotas, schools should focus more on language support and early education help.
One expert, Andreas Schleicher from the OECD, said that the best results come from mixed classrooms, where students of all backgrounds learn together and help each other grow. He believes Germany should invest more in language classes, extra teachers, and early learning programs for immigrant children.
Other educators say that children who speak little or no German should get special lessons before joining regular classes. This helps them feel confident and ready to learn with others. The idea is to support, not separate.
