A recent survey by the Bitkom, Germany’s IT industry association, reveals a stark disconnect between the ambition of digital transformation in German schools and the reality experienced by parents. The findings, released this week, expose a significant gap in preparedness and a burgeoning sense of inadequacy regarding the nation’s digital education initiatives.
Parents consistently rated the digital design of their children’s schooling with a middling “satisfactory” grade of 3.3, highlighting a widespread perception of underperformance. A concerning 17% graded the effort as “sufficient” while 10% deemed it “poor” and 5% rated it as “failing”. Only a minority – 17% – felt the digital infrastructure and integration deserved a “good” rating and a negligible 4% awarded a “very good.
The core of the issue appears to be a perceived failure to equip students with the skills needed for the future workforce. A resounding 85% of parents expressed the view that German schools are demonstrably failing to adequately prepare children and adolescents for the demands of a digitally driven professional landscape. This failure is fueling a powerful demand for increased investment, with 65% advocating for higher funding specifically targeted at digital school infrastructure and programs.
Beyond simply providing devices and platforms, parents are articulating a clear desire for comprehensive digital literacy education. A substantial 79% support embedding media and digital literacy skills directly into the school curriculum. Perhaps most significantly, a quarter (24%) of parents specifically want to see artificial intelligence (AI) education incorporated into the curriculum, signaling a recognition of its growing importance. Furthermore, a majority (62%) believe that computer science should be a mandatory subject for all students, further emphasizing the perceived need for a more robust approach to digital skills acquisition.
However, the survey also underscores a systemic challenge: a significant lack of teacher training. An overwhelming 69% of parents believe that the majority of German teachers lack the necessary skills and competencies to effectively teach digital literacy and integrate technology into the classroom. This deficiency directly impedes progress toward broader digital transformation. Consequently, 63% of parents are now calling for mandatory, ongoing professional development for teachers specifically focused on digital competency.
The findings, based on a telephone survey of 1,004 parents of children aged six to eighteen conducted between May 20th and May 27th, 2025, paint a complex picture. While Germany has embraced digital transformation in many sectors, the education system seems to be lagging significantly, creating a growing chasm between current practices and the needs of the nation’s future workforce and placing considerable political pressure on policymakers to address the shortcomings.