Jubilee in Stendal: certificates for migrant students despite challenges!

Jubilee in Stendal: certificates for migrant students despite challenges!

On June 25, 2025, it was time again at the secondary school "Wladimir Komarow" in Stendal: Around 40 tenth graders received their certificates, an important moment in their educational path. Headmistress Christiane Bloch emphasized how difficult this path was primarily for the students who came to school during the Corona pandemic. The challenges should not be underestimated, because a high proportion of 75 % of the 320 students has a migration background, and the school represents 32 nations.

of the graduates 12 reached an extended secondary school leaving certificate and 27 a secondary school leaving certificate. The individual services are particularly noteworthy: Olha Konovalko, which came from Ukraine in 2022, impressed with a grade average of 1.2. Soraya Khalili Vahed, whose family comes from Iran, achieved the best average with 1.0. Olnaz Hashimi, who immigrated from Afghanistan in 2014, plans to start training as a nurse in Hamburg.

cultural diversity and challenges

The high number of pupils with a migration background has causes, which have been primarily in the influx of Ukrainian families since 2022. The proportion of migrants has increased noticeably, which also explains the introduction of an international class at the school in 2000. 21 children are currently being looked after there. This multicultural environment is an enrichment, but also brings challenges, especially when you consider that educational success in Germany often depends on migration status. Students with family immigration history are often considered to be educated, such as bpb.de.

There are differences in access to high schools that vary depending on the generation: 16.1 % of the first generation visit the high school, while this number for the second generation is already 30.3 %. For the 2.5. Generation is even 35.7 %. In comparison, it is 43.0 %for non -immigrant classmates. The 2018 PISA study also shows that there are differences in reading skills that can have a negative impact on school career.

construction and teaching situation

Despite the diversity and positive developments, the school faces challenges. Refurbishment work associated with costs of EUR 2.6 million have already run over two years. The lessons for some students are now taking place in containers. With a lesson supply of only 59.4 %, the school is below the nationwide average, which urgently needs to be improved. Even if the school is represented in the federal program "Start-chances" to develop its own profile, there is ambiguity about the financial means that is available to it. Overall, 20 billion euros are available for such programs over ten years, financed by the federal and state governments.

Overall, the secondary school "Vladimir Komarow" is both an important institution for the integration of migrant children and a place where educational success can be achieved. The mixture of diversity and challenges makes the work of the teachers and the school management particularly demanding, but also worthwhile.