More lessons in Bavaria's primary schools in response to the Pisa study

The expansion of teaching in Bavaria's primary schools in response to the poor performance in the Pisa education study is taking shape. "It is planned to introduce a total of six additional hours at primary school in the next few years. The subjects of mathematics, German, sport and music are to be strengthened," said the Ministry of Culture upon request.

The “Augsburger Allgemeine” first reported with reference to information from the chairman of the education committee in the state parliament, Peter Tomaschko (CSU). Accordingly, grades one and two should receive an additional hour per week, and grades three and four should receive two additional hours per week. The ministry initially did not provide any information on this.

The exact design is currently being discussed and developed together with the school family, the ministry explained. A spokesman initially left it open as to when the expansion of the timetable would take effect. The additional hour in sports for the first grades, which has been announced for a long time for the coming school year 2027/28, counts as one of the six new hours, he added.

For the new teaching positions that would then be required, additional positions would “definitely” be needed in the new double budget. However, the spokesman left it open how many. According to Tomaschko, according to an initial rough estimate, the reform requires 1,300 additional teachers, whose positions are to be created within two years.

The most recent PISA education monitoring revealed significant deficits among students in Germany. Large proportions of 15-year-olds did not meet the minimum standards in subjects such as mathematics, German and natural sciences. Bavaria had already reacted to the previous poor test results and increased the subjects of German and mathematics in primary school - but at the expense of other subjects such as music, art or English.