OECD Report 2025: Germany's education shines, but the social gap remains!

OECD Report 2025: Germany's education shines, but the social gap remains!

In a current OECD study, Germany is rated as strong in the areas of MINT and vocational training. The report entitled “Education at a Glance – Education at a Glance 2025” presents important findings on the state of the education system across all OECD countries as well as accession countries and partner countries.

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär stated at a federal press conference that Germany has the highest proportion of tertiary graduates in MINT subjects in the world. What is particularly pleasing is that the number of university graduates in these areas is continuously increasing, while at the same time the number of international students in Germany is reaching considerable heights: from 7.1% in 2013, the proportion of foreign students has now increased to 12.7%, which makes a significant contribution to the diversity of higher education.

Quality assessment in international comparison

The OECD emphasizes that German universities perform well internationally. Nevertheless, there are light and shadows: A worrying trend shows that in the age group of 25 to 34, the proportion of young people without school or vocational training has risen to 15%, which is particularly problematic for households with little education. While 20% of young adults from these households obtain a university degree, around 60% of children with academic degrees do so.

Youth unemployment in Germany remains at 2.7%, which is below the OECD average. This means that the chances for young people are generally good, but social inequalities in access to education show alarming differences. Tagesschau reports that these inequalities have increased in recent years. Dropping out of college or not completing a degree not only has a negative impact on personal development, but also on the economic mobility of future generations.

Challenges and future outlook

The OECD puts its finger in the wound: Despite positive developments, there is a lot to do. Self-responsible adults need to be given more support so that they can improve their basic skills. The political measures include programs such as “School makes you strong” and the StartChances program, which specifically support disadvantaged schools. Furthermore, the initial period for school graduates to begin their training is made easier, which is intended to build an important bridge.

The shortage of teachers in MINT subjects is seen as particularly critical. BR also speaks of a clear need to promote equality through programs such as the “Professor Program” and the Tenure Track Program, which are intended to enable a better balance between academic careers and family.

In order to respond to the challenges of the education system, the actors are planning, among other things, a reform of the Science Temporary Contract Act and a revision of the BAföG. The MINT action plan should also be further developed in order to attract even more young people to these subjects in the future. It therefore remains to be seen how Germany will face the challenges of education policy and how future investments can counteract the social gaps.