Current social reforms in Germany: Inequality in the educational system

Abstract

In the present paper several articles concerned with current issues in educational system in Germany are analyzed to describe three problem groups: immigrants and their children, socially vulnerable groups (handicapped people, prisoners and those who were released from prison) and some groups of women. Gender issues in educational system include problems of professional education and training of single mothers, and equal opportunities in scientific career. The main conclusion in these articles is that the educational system of the reunited Germany doesn’t perform its function any more — it doesn’t create a background which would make abilities, energy and insistence the major predictors of social success. Downward mobility, instead of an upward one, prevails even in the comprehensive school.