Educational history of Saxony
Saxony is considered to be one of the best educational locations in Germany, which can be seen in educational studies and school performance studies . The Kingdom of Saxony was already one of the most progressive areas in Germany in terms of education . Its school system goes back a long way to the pre-Reformation period, whereas the neighboring area of today's Saxony-Anhalt, for example, only developed its own educational landscape since the Reformation (16th century).
From the 12th century to the end of the Weimar Republic
The church foundations include the cathedral school in Meißen (1183) or the monastery schools St. Afra (1205) and St. Thomas (1409). Princely foundations were the Latin School to Zwickau (1291) and the University of Leipzig (1409).
There is evidence of an urban elementary school system in Dresden since 1532 . In the following centuries the active establishment of educational institutions continued, so that a broad spectrum emerged. In 1835 the organization of the elementary school system began. The aim was to establish compulsory education for eight years .
This was followed by the creation of the basis for a sufficient general education and, in parallel, the creation of the prerequisites, methods and framework conditions for further professional education. The Princely Schools Meißen and Pforta , founded in 1543, and technical colleges and universities of applied sciences such as For example, the Freiberg Mining Academy , the Dresden Veterinary School , the Tharandt Forestry Academy established in 1811 , the Dresden Technical Training Institute founded in 1828 and the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences .
From National Socialism to the dissolution of the GDR
During the time of National Socialism , Saxony lost its independence due to the resulting district administration and could no longer regulate the education system on its own responsibility.
The centralized administration and influence on the development of education in Saxony continued during the existence of the German Democratic Republic . After the war, a large number of different educational institutions emerged in the 3 districts that existed from 1952 (Dresden, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Leipzig). The rule was initially the 8-year-old and later the 10-year training at a secondary school (POS). Abitur could be obtained after 12 years with particular aptitude and was a prerequisite for a technical or university degree. In addition, the workers 'and peasants' faculties (ABF) that were established in 1949 should be emphasized. Working class and peasant children were given the opportunity to acquire university entrance qualifications in these institutions. A large number of additional educational institutions were also created, such as the technical schools, which in turn were supposed to train the academic mid-level staff that were missing after the war. Graduates from the ABF and the technical schools had the opportunity to study at universities after completing a good degree. A large number of academics in the GDR successfully completed this course of education in direct or distance learning. One of the better-known technical schools here was the Dresden Technical School for Aircraft Construction, which trained specialists for the emerging aircraft industry until about 1961.
From the reunification of Germany until today
Only after the dissolution of the GDR was the newly created Free State of Saxony able to organize its own education system. The reorganization began with the merger of the former GDR districts of Dresden, Leipzig and Karl-Marx-Stadt (today Chemnitz) and the alignment with the legal provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany , which are set out in the Unification Treaty . A fierce and controversial debate arose about the introduction of a structured school system, which had been planned since August 1990. Due to the high proportion of supporters of the comprehensive school concept, this discussion lasted particularly long. On July 3, 1991, the Education Act for the Free State of Saxony was passed. It provided for a breakdown of the education system into different types of schools:
- General and vocational schools ( elementary school , middle school , grammar school or vocational school , vocational school , technical school , technical college and vocational grammar school )
- Special schools for students with intellectual disabilities , physical disabilities or learning disabilities
- Secondary education schools (evening middle school, evening grammar school, college)
Furthermore, the education system was divided into school levels:
- Primary level (primary school grades 1–4)
- Secondary level I (grades 5–10 of the general school, the special school and the evening middle school)
- Secondary level II (grades 11 and 12 of the general school, the special school as well as the vocational school, the evening grammar school and the college)
Comprehensive schools were expressly excluded.
The so-called middle school is a peculiarity of the Saxon education system and firmly established as the "core" of the Saxon school landscape, but was the most discussed of all the types of schools introduced in 1992. It is an amalgamation of Hauptschule and Realschule . Grades 5 and 6 of grammar school and middle school form the orientation level and have the same curriculum. In the orientation stage, the pupil has to decide which way to go to school. In this school section there are special school "profiles" for both types of school (high school and middle school):
- linguistic profile
- mathematical and scientific profile
- musical profile
- technical profile
- sporty profile
Students can choose freely from these profiles and thus determine a certain focus of their schooling.
A large number of school experiments and model projects with scientific support are intended to ensure the further development and improvement of the Saxon school system (especially the middle school). Furthermore, these experiments and projects also serve to test new educational and organizational concepts. The approval is given by the highest school supervisory authority, i.e. the Ministry of Culture .
On July 25, 1991, the renewal of the Saxon higher education system began with the passage of the "Saxon University Renewal Act". This was followed on April 10, 1992 by the passing of the "Higher Education Structure Act" and on August 4, 1993 by the "Higher Education Act". The process of the personnel and structural reorganization of the Saxon higher education system has now been completed according to these laws.
At the moment there are 4 universities in Saxony :
- University of Leipzig
- Bergakademie Freiberg
- Technical University Dresden
- Chemnitz University of Technology
In addition to the universities, there are 5 art colleges and 5 technical colleges . After the reunification of Germany , however, some formerly independent universities were also dissolved. B. the Medical Academy Dresden , the University of Transportation u. a. In addition, the universities of education in Dresden, Leipzig and Zwickau were dissolved.
The teacher training for the types of school elementary school, middle school and high school through the creation of its own teacher training courses hedged. Particularly important institutions in this context are the "Saxon Academy for Teacher Training" (SALF) and the "Institute for Educational Research and School Development" (IBiS), which have now merged into the Saxon Educational Institute (SBI).