Education in German schools is not entirely free
Universal secondary education in Germany is compulsory and free (church and private schools aside). This, however, does not mean that children's schooling costs their parents nothing at all. The amounts add up considerably. According to experts from the German Research Institute for Education and Social Economics, all German parents together spend between 2.6 and 3.6 billion euros per year on their children's education even in regular schools.
School equipment
At the end of the school year, children are given lists of textbooks they will need the next year. For each set of textbooks for my two fourth-grade daughters, I had to pay 98 euros 15 cents.
The second list is stationery: notebooks of various sizes, covers and binders of different colors, pencils and markers, compasses and rulers, glue and plasticine, paints and brushes of certain thicknesses, pens and scissors that regularly get lost. If the child is left-handed, special scissors for him cost, for example, five euros, and a pen at least 10. In addition, children are usually given a breakfast and something to drink to take to school every day. All these are ongoing expenses that are hard to keep strict track of.
The backpack must be a brand-name one, of course. Such a "work of art" together with a pencil case, sports bag and wallet in matching style costs from 80 to 130 euros. Backpacks sold in Germany are surprisingly sturdy, and in principle they could last quite a while if fashion did not change every year or two.
Class fund
At the beginning of the school year, at the very first parents' meeting, a democratic vote decides on the class fund. In our case, parents contribute 15 euros per student per semester. Additionally, every six months the teacher collects 8 euros for a group travel pass, needed when she and the students take public transport for an excursion: to a museum, theater, or zoo. Entrance tickets are paid from the class fund or – if the event is extraordinary – additionally by parents (5-10 euros).
In primary school, children often make, sculpt, sew, or bake something, such as cookies for Christmas. In such cases, it is customary to pay for the raw materials (3-5 euros per person) or have the child bring a raw egg, butter, flour, store-bought dough, a carton of milk, and a rolling pin to school.
Semi-voluntary expenses
Once a year, a professional photographer comes to the school for group and individual photo sessions. A set of eight photos (one group, the rest portrait of various sizes) costs about 15 euros. But you can decline if you can resist the child's persuasion.
As a rule, once a year the class goes on a school-organized trip for several days to a children's forest camp, a tent city, or a farm converted to host little guests. The price is around 200 euros per person, including travel by chartered bus, accommodation, and three meals a day for five days: Monday through Friday.
A regular district school guarantees supervision of students only during certain hours – from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The fee for after-school care until 4:00 p.m. with a simple lunch depends on parental income and ranges, for example in Berlin, from 15 to 203 euros per month. A child can be left at school until six in the evening, but that is even more expensive. Lunches are paid separately – 23 euros per month.
On the other hand, you can use the school library for free, attend a "handicraft" or gardening club, or take part in a football or rhythmic gymnastics section.