Germany is one of the few countries in the world where a person in police uniform is treated with trust
Last week, mass student demonstrations took place in many German cities. Tens of thousands of young people took to the streets, demanding, among other things, the abolition of tuition fees. Students of the Police Academy, however, do not have to pay a semester fee. On the contrary, the state pays them a scholarship, and already in the 1st year (there are three in total) it is at least €920 per month.
To be admitted to the academy, it is not necessary to have German citizenship. Any permanent resident of the Federal Republic of Germany who has completed a gymnasium education and whose age at the time of admission does not exceed 32 years is entitled to submit documents for enrollment. But the door is not closed to graduates of Realschule either. True, their path to a diploma is longer: first they have to complete a 2-year police school, while simultaneously undergoing practical training in one of the police units.
The admission conditions at Police Academies are roughly the same throughout the country, but each state has its own specifics (all information is provided on the websites of the state police departments). What is common to all police universities is that in recent years they have willingly accepted young people from migrant families. How the selection of candidates takes place, using the example of the Lower Saxony Police Academy, is described by the liaison for resettlers and migrants of the Hanover police, Elena Schultheis.
– I'll start with an announcement, – says Elena. – The acceptance of applications from those wishing to study at the Lower Saxony Police Academy for the 2010/11 academic year ends on January 8, 2010. That is, there is little time left for reflection. The competition is usually high – from 7 to 10 people per place. For example, in this academic year, over 5,000 applications were submitted for 704 places. In the 2010/11 academic year, there will be only 500 places. This is due to planned vacancies, particularly related to police officers retiring.
Young men and women who are physically fit, have no criminal record, and have a gymnasium Abitur with an average grade of at least 3.0 can apply for enrollment. Moreover, in each of the core subjects – mathematics, German and English, as well as physical education – the grade must also be at least 3.0. And you must have a class B driver's license.
There are three entrance exams: a computer test, a physical fitness test, and an interview. The most difficult is passing the computer test (usually up to 45% of applicants are weeded out). Those who pass the test take the physical fitness test on the same day (here the dropout is small – up to 10% of the remaining). And the last test is an interview with a commission, whose members ask the applicant questions from a specially developed collection (here another 10-20% are weeded out). But that's not all: those who pass all tests must undergo a check by a police doctor. The most annoying thing is when someone is weeded out at this stage. Although rare, it does happen.
– What is the procedure for submitting documents for admission?
– Details can be read on the website of the Lower Saxony Police www.polizei-studium.de. There is a wealth of information – from application forms to a 15-minute demonstration test (the full exam version of the test is designed for 4.5 hours). And also. Especially for migrants, the academy's hotline operates all year round on weekdays: (05541) 702 243.
– Do the exams take place at a specific time?
– No. As applications are received, the admissions committee forms small groups that are invited to the first exam – the computer test. The last time, for example, the test was conducted on November 10. Interviews are conducted on the same principle. The start of studies is October 1, 2010.
– Are there any Russian-speaking students at the Lower Saxony Academy?
– Yes. Currently, there are 19 of them studying in the 1st year, including 4 girls.
– In which police services can graduates of the academy work?
– After receiving the diploma, they are required to work for two years in the operational unit (Bereitschaftspolizei). These are special units used during mass events. And then they are assigned to vacant positions in police stations. Academy graduates are prepared to work in any service – in the criminal police, water police, air police, and all other units.
In conclusion, I want to say again: both the academy and the police as a whole are very interested in an influx of young people from among migrants. A person in police uniform in Germany is treated with trust. People perfectly understand that a police officer is a guarantor of their daily peace, a person to whom you can always approach with any problem, and he will certainly help because he is professionally trained. That is exactly the kind of training provided at the Police Academy.
Interviewed by Sergei DEBRER. 