Ukrainian parents in Germany may be surprised by a system that effectively splits children's educational trajectories already after primary school. At the same time, university is not considered there the only path to a good profession and stable income. Ukrainian Liudmyla Rusina reported this in her blog on TikTok.
How Germany's education system determines a child's path after primary school
According to the Ukrainian woman, one of the key moments comes already at about 10–11 years old. High grades open the way for schoolchildren to a gymnasium, after which one can pass the Abitur and apply for university admission.
“Universities in Germany are not for everyone. And already in the fourth grade, a child here is almost doomed,” the blogger described her perception of the system.
Rusina notes that at such an age it is still difficult to objectively assess a schoolchild's abilities and future potential. A child may develop later, but the choice of educational trajectory happens quite early.
At the same time, the system allows children to study at their own pace. Those who did not get into a gymnasium after primary school do not lose the opportunity to continue their education and build a professional career in another way.
It is also possible to obtain higher education after a regular school. According to the Ukrainian woman, the road to university in this case will be longer and more difficult, but the initial choice does not mean a final ban on entering a university.
How studying in Germany differs from the Ukrainian system
The blogger called the Ukrainian model significantly more accessible for university admission. She recalled a period when, in her words, about 70% of school graduates entered universities, although a diploma did not always guarantee subsequent work in the specialty.
“In Ukraine, on the contrary, universities have become so accessible that I remember a period when 70% of graduates entered them. And is there any sense in that when most of them then cannot find a job,” Rusina noted.
She names strong vocational education as one of the main differences in Germany. Young people can master a specific specialty, gain practical experience in parallel, and prepare for work without a mandatory university diploma.
Therefore, the absence of university studies in Germany is not necessarily perceived as an educational or professional failure. The labor market allows one to obtain an in-demand profession and stable income through other training formats.
The Ukrainian woman herself summed up that both systems have advantages and disadvantages. However, she considers the German approach more practical because it focuses not only on a diploma but also on obtaining a profession and real skills for future work.