Germany’s Education System Shows Mixed Progress Amid Challenges in 2026

According to the OECD's "Bildung auf einen Blick 2026" report, Germany has made significant strides in education, particularly with a leading 34% of graduates in STEM fields—higher than any other OECD country. International students in Germany show an even stronger STEM orientation, with 51% of graduates in these fields, second only to the United States. Early childhood education is another area of success, with 96% of children aged 3-5 attending kindergarten, surpassing the OECD average of 90%. Despite these advances, Germany faces notable challenges. The proportion of young adults (25-34) holding a tertiary degree stands at 41%, below the OECD average of 49%, although it has improved by 11 percentage points since 2015. Youth unemployment remains problematic, with 11% of 18-24-year-olds neither employed nor in education, up from 9% a decade ago. Teacher shortages are a persistent concern, with 18.6% of primary and secondary teachers lacking full qualifications, impacting learning quality as reported by 55% of students. Federal Education Minister Karin Prien calls for targeted reforms, emphasizing early education quality and introducing language assessments for four-year-olds. Both Prien and OECD expert Andreas Schleicher stress the need for stronger performance standards and better support for teachers. Germany’s education spending per student is around $16,430 annually, above the OECD average, though education expenditure relative to GDP is slightly lower. While Germany performs well in secondary education attainment, a rising proportion of youth lack a secondary qualification, and vocational qualifications are declining among younger generations. These findings underscore the complexity of Germany's education landscape, balancing progress in STEM and early education with urgent reforms to address teacher shortages, equitable access, and youth employment challenges.