Bavaria expands German language testing for preschoolers

May 07, 2025

By Adedoja Adesoji

The Bavarian state government has introduced mandatory German language testing for preschoolers approaching school age.

According to the new law, all children, including those from monolingual German families and those who don’t attend Kita, will undergo language screening 18 months before starting primary school (Grundschule).

Children believed to need additional support will attend a 30-minute language test at their prospective Grundschule.

If their German is deemed insufficient, parents must enroll them in a year-long “integrated preparation course” called Vorkurs Deutsch 240, which offers 240 hours of German language instruction.

The goal is to improve migrant children’s chances in the German school system. However, the German Education and Academia Union (GEW) has expressed concerns that the program may face challenges due to staff shortages, stating it will “barely work in reality.”

The new system aims to better prepare children for primary school by assessing their language skills and providing targeted support.