NRW's Extended School Entry Phase Swells Elementary School Enrollment
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), more children are spending three years in the flexible school entry phase, causing an increase in elementary school enrollment. This phase, which includes grades 1 and 2, is designed to be completed in one to three years. However, language problems and a lack of pre-school education are exacerbating the issue, with around 25% of children entering school having treatable language abnormalities. School principals in Bergisch Gladbach are raising concerns about the growing class sizes and heterogeneity.
The flexible school entry phase allows children to spend up to three years in the first two grades. This has led to more children remaining in the entry phase, increasing the number of pupils in elementary schools. However, this flexibility has also highlighted the importance of pre-school education and kindergarten attendance, which is currently not mandatory in NRW. Around 25% of children entering school have treatable language abnormalities, indicating a need for better support before they start school.
Class sizes in Bergisch Gladbach are growing, with some primary school classes having up to 29 children. This increase in class size and heterogeneity is concerning school principals like Olaf Raschkowski and Uwe Becker. They advocate for compulsory kindergarten or better support in childcare to ensure children are school-ready. The use of smartphones and other digital devices is also affecting children's ability to concentrate and interact, further complicating the situation.
The extended school entry phase and growing class sizes in Bergisch Gladbach are putting pressure on schools and teachers. To address this, school principals are planning school places based on which second-grade children are at risk of not being promoted. However, the increasing number of retentions due to language, motor, or social-emotional deficits suggests that more support is needed. Integrating pre-school education into school entry phase lesson plans is a step in the right direction, but mandatory kindergarten or better childcare support could help ensure that children are better prepared for school.
