Future opportunities: Origin more important than performance for 53 percent of Germans!

A current survey shows how social origin influences educational opportunities. Suggestions on equal opportunities are discussed.
A current survey shows how social origin influences educational opportunities. Suggestions on equal opportunities are discussed. (Symbolbild/NAG)

Future opportunities: Origin more important than performance for 53 percent of Germans!

The current survey shows that a majority of Germans believe that social origin has a greater impact on the future opportunities of young people than personal efforts. According to mdr , 53 percent of the respondents indicate that the origin is more important, while 41 percent consider their own willingness to perform more important. This perspective is particularly shared by people from lower social classes: 62 percent see the origin here as the most important factor.

The discussion about equal opportunities in education is also shaped by personal experiences. A participant from Leipzig, Sandy (40), expresses that education is often costly and is not sufficiently available to families. Carmen (59) from the Vogtlandkreis brings an opposite perspective into play, which despite poor standards gained positive experiences.

education and the social gap

Education is not only a key to professional success, but also crucial for income, health and social participation. Article 7 of the Basic Law obliges the state to raise and form all children. Despite the legal requirements, however, the reality is that educational success depends heavily on social background. bpb reports that in 2021 almost 50 percent from families with a low level of education achieved vocational training without training. In contrast, over 50 percent of people from academic families have completed a degree. This shows that educational results are very unevenly distributed. School qualifications and grades play a crucial role in professional career, and many children in social hotspots are affected by language and educational poverty, which has a negative impact on their future chances.

perspectives for the future

worrying is the German assessment of the future: 72 percent believe that coming generations will have more difficult to rise socially. Only 13 percent are optimistic and see better chances of social advancement. Suggestions for more equal opportunities range from higher taxes for wealthy to longer learning for children. 66 percent of those surveyed speak out to learn children together longer before they are promoted separately. In addition, 52 percent higher taxes for wealthy than a meaningful approach.

The school performance of elementary school students in Germany is a worrying, and education expansion has not significantly changed the structural relationships between social origin and education. Studies show that the chances of studying are significantly higher for young adults from academic families - an average of 5.1 times more than for those from families without a high school diploma. This makes it clear that the education system in Germany is often perceived as a "sorting machine" that reinforces existing social inequalities, so Springer .

The social discrepancy between the educational paths of the students reflects the need to understand education as a social law for all children and to reduce structural barriers to ensure fairer education.

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OrtLeipzig, Deutschland
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