FIZE Dialogues

Compulsory Schooling, Educational Standards and Future Skills – Why FIZE Believes in Dialogue

Major societal developments often begin with a simple question.

In recent months, Germany has once again been discussing whether compulsory school attendance should be relaxed in favour of a broader obligation to receive an education. While this debate mainly focuses on whether compulsory schooling should be weakened, we at FIZE wanted to introduce a different perspective: In light of today's societal and technological developments, shouldn't we instead ask what minimum educational standards young people will need in the future?

With this question in mind, we addressed an open letter to the Ministers of Education of the German federal states. Our intention was not to question existing school qualifications or to criticize the lower secondary school certificate itself. Rather, we wanted to encourage a broader discussion about whether today's minimum educational standards remain sufficient in an era shaped by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, societal transformation and the growing importance of future skills.

We were particularly pleased to receive a detailed and thoughtful response from one of the state ministries responsible for education. The reply addressed our considerations in depth and explained the pedagogical, organisational and legal arguments supporting the current structure of compulsory schooling.

This constructive exchange reflects what FIZE stands for. Our goal is not to provide ready-made answers, but to contribute ideas and encourage dialogue between public administration, academia, business and civil society. We believe that sustainable solutions to future challenges can only emerge through open and respectful discussion.

Our perspective is also shaped by the practical work of FIZE. Through our initiative MICT UA, we work together with Ukrainian ministries, regional development agencies, universities and companies to develop pathways that enable young Ukrainians who complete their education abroad to reconnect with educational, professional and social structures in their home country. These discussions repeatedly highlight the fundamental role of education in shaping individual life opportunities and the future development of modern societies.

For this reason, we intend to continue this dialogue. In our view, it is worth asking together which competencies young people will need in order to lead self-determined lives and assume responsibility in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

FIZE – Forum for International Future and Development Partnerships – provides a platform for dialogue on future-oriented issues at the intersection of education, society, business and international cooperation. In our "Dialogue & Perspectives" section, we regularly share ideas, discussions and developments that shape our work..