The fourth-grader from the Tübingen area always got an A or B in math. But like many other fourth-graders in Baden-Württemberg, he had a hard time with the “Kompass 4” performance test. Other children from the family’s circle of friends also failed, says the father, a scientist at the University of Tübingen from Syria.
Performance test was newly introduced
The parents of the fourth grader want their son to go to the Gymnasium. Last year, they would have been able to decide on their own. But this school year was different. In addition to the parents’ wishes, a recommendation from the primary school and a positive performance test were also required to switch to the Gymnasium.
State parliament amends school law
There was fierce criticism of this performance test from parents, teachers’ unions and the opposition. However, the state government and the Ministry of Education stuck to it. Now a majority in the state parliament voted to change the school law. This also includes the amended regulation for the “Kompass 4” exam.
School recommendation and parental will count
The new education law now states that if two of the three criteria match – for example, the school’s recommendation and the parents’ wishes – the child can transfer to the grammar school even if they have a poor “Kompass 4” test result. In a survey, four out of five teachers said that the test results did not match their assessment of the children.
A chance with a poor test result
If the test result is not good enough and the primary school is against the transition to the grammar school, the child still has one option: the “potential test”. It is to be written at grammar schools throughout the state on Tuesday, February 18. Only six percent of students reached grammar school level in math in “Kompass 4”. Minister of Education Theresia Schopper now wants the math tasks to be checked.
New law provides more language support
The new education law contains further changes such as mandatory language support for children who need it, starting in kindergarten and, if necessary, continuing into the first two years of school. Also new are “junior classes” for children who, according to doctors, would have a difficult time in regular first grades. It will start in the 2026/27 school year, and there should be more than 800 of these classes across the country by 2028. From the next school year, the nine-year grammar school (G9) will also be introduced. This starts with grades 5 and 6.
See the new school law: KM BaWü | It all depends on the beginning!
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