Bildung: Bei Kindern „nicht länger im Nebel stochern“: Arbeitgeber fordern Umsetzung der Schüler-ID

Employers have urged the federal government to consistently implement their announced plans for education data. According to a position paper by the German Employers' Association (BDA) obtained by the Handelsblatt, Germany can substantially improve the quality of the education system and its performance outcomes if educational data is systematically utilized.

The goal must be to ensure the basic competencies of all young people, reduce the number of underachievers, and increase the number of high achievers. In their coalition agreement, the Union and SPD had pledged to jointly agree on "relevant and measurable education targets" and create a "data-driven school development and education tracking register."

They also agreed to support the introduction of a "compatible, data protection-compliant student ID" and its integration with the national ID. However, the Ministry of Education has so far only advised on a unique identification number for students to track educational progress, with data from schools showing individual support needs.

This data should also feed into a "education tracking register" for statistical analysis over longer periods. Despite the federal government's willingness to support the countries in the matter of the student ID, it is still discussing possible support measures. Employer president Rainer Dulger criticized this inaction, stating that when it comes to the future of our children, we cannot afford to keep guessing.

He emphasized that a student ID would help track educational paths, detect learning gaps early, and target support more effectively. However, the situation varies significantly across the federal states, with some, like Hamburg, already having a centralized student register since 2005, while others like Baden-Württemberg plan to introduce a nationwide student ID in 2027/2028.

The systems are not compatible, and not all countries collect individual data, which is a prerequisite for creating a comprehensive education tracking register.