A vast majority of Germans want equal education standards and greater government spending to give disadvantaged children better opportunities in the education system. According to a survey published on Tuesday, commissioned by the German Children's Fund (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk), most adults as well as children and teenagers also see mandatory democracy education in schools and more opportunities for student participation as essential measures for promoting civic engagement and democratic learning.
The survey, conducted by the polling institute Forsa for the Children's Report 2026 (Kinderreport 2026), was presented in Berlin. It showed that the overwhelming majority of respondents supported the idea that conditions and standards in educational institutions should be the same across all of Germany. This was backed by 91 percent of adults and 87 percent of the minors surveyed.
Both groups also expressed support for stronger collaboration between different educational institutions. A majority was in favour of providing additional financial support to schools with a high proportion of socially disadvantaged children. For the Children's Report, Forsa surveyed 1,002 adults and 1,006 children and teenagers aged between ten and 17 online from January 7 to January 16.
Ninety percent of adult respondents and 88 percent of children and teenagers also said that education in nurseries and schools should be free of charge, including teaching materials. Adults in particular also called for more qualified support staff to relieve educational professionals of organisational tasks.
Both adults and young people additionally supported mandatory learning and language support programmes, as well as comprehensive school social work and expanded psychosocial counselling services, specifically to improve the educational opportunities of socially disadvantaged children.
Greater investment in the education system is "not a nice-to-have", but rather "a defining question for our nation", said Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) at the launch of the Children's Report 2026. She added that the skilled labour shortage could only be solved if every child was given the opportunity to complete a successful educational pathway, "according to their talents and inclinations."
Eighty percent of adults and 78 percent of children and teenagers also said that refugee children should be able to attend school quickly after their arrival. When asked about potential measures to directly support socially disadvantaged children, 94 percent of adult respondents considered mandatory learning and language support important, while 91 percent backed support programmes for families in difficult circumstances. Children and teenagers shared similar views, with 88 and 86 percent respectively.
Educational opportunities in Germany remain unequally distributed, criticised the Vice President of the German Children's Fund, Anja Siegesmund. She said that social mobility "today more than ever depends on the parents' wallet."
"A lack of nursery places, a nationally inconsistent education system, and insufficient investment in personnel and equipment remain a reality even in 2026." She added that children living in poverty or with a migrant background are particularly affected by barriers in the education system.
A large majority of respondents also said that schools should teach students how the state and civic society work together. "We must not remain indifferent when 94 percent of children want to learn how democracy works at school and schools simply cannot find the time," Siegesmund criticised.
Prien added that democracy in Germany "probably depends crucially on as many children and young people as possible receiving a good education that gives them the ability to think critically and to critically evaluate political and historical issues."
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