North Rhine-Westphalia’s (NRW) state government is developing proposals to increase the involvement of student teachers in classroom settings throughout their studies. Education Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) addressed the initiative in an interview with the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, emphasizing the desire among student teachers for more practical experience.
The proposed changes are also intended to alleviate pressure on the final teaching certification period, known as the “Referendariat” and to better prepare future educators for the realities of school life.
Minister Feller also indicated a willingness to reconsider the standardized “ZP10” exam, administered to students at the end of the 10th grade. While acknowledging the exam’s purpose – to reinforce and consolidate knowledge from the middle school years – she stated a commitment to reviewing it in light of concerns raised by educators. “I am fundamentally open to reconsidering things when there is well-founded criticism” Feller said to the WAZ. The ongoing feedback will inform future policy decisions regarding teacher training and assessment.