Policy Document

Compulsory schooling act of the German Reich

Year

1938

Country

Germany

Topic

Education

Subtopic

Compulsory Schooling

Main implications

First compulsory schooling act at the central level.

The law distinguishes between compulsory general education and compulsory vocational education (Section II and III).

The law formally states the obligation to attend school (Paragraph 12) and stipulates for the first time sanctions for non-compliance with the guidelines on compulsory education (Paragraph 14).

Benefits & Requirements

Coverage: Requirements for its application

The law defines entitlement to compulsory education to all children with German citizenship (Paragraph 1).

Criteria for coverage

The law stipulates compulsory schooling for eight years in general school (Volksschulpflicht), followed by two to three years in vocational school and training (Berufsschulpflicht).
The beginning of compulsory education is standardised, meaning it starts for all children that reach the age of six before 30 June (Paragraph 2).

Duration (numbers of years of compulsory education stipulated by this document)

8-11

Is educational tracking implemented or modified by this document?

No

Read the Law

Original full text web source in native language

http://www.verfassungen.de/de/de33-45/schulpflicht38.htm

Author

Wida Rogh
External Consultant

Data collected in the framework of the Population Europe Research Finder and Archive (PERFAR)

Cite as

SPLASH-db.eu (2015): Policy: "Compulsory schooling act of the German Reich" (Information provided by Wida Rogh). Available at: https://splash-db.eu [Date of access].