NextFin news, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published its "Education at a Glance 2025" report this Tuesday, September 9, 2025, revealing a widening educational divide in Germany. The report, based on comprehensive data from OECD member countries, shows that children from less advantaged families in Germany are significantly less likely to complete tertiary education than those from more privileged backgrounds.
According to the OECD, only 26% of young adults in Germany whose parents did not complete upper secondary education hold a tertiary qualification, compared to 70% of young adults with at least one parent who attained tertiary education. This disparity highlights persistent inequality in educational opportunities within the country.
The report also points out that while overall educational attainment remains high in Germany, unequal access to higher education continues to hinder social mobility. The OECD emphasizes that tertiary education is increasingly important for securing well-paid and skilled employment, making the educational gap a critical issue for the labor market.
Furthermore, the OECD data shows that completion rates for bachelor’s degree programs in Germany are relatively low, with only 43% of new entrants graduating within the expected program duration. Completion rates improve to 59% after an additional year and 70% after three additional years, with men having lower completion rates than women.
The OECD suggests that policy measures to improve academic preparation, career guidance, and program design in secondary and tertiary education could help increase completion rates. Additionally, recognizing partial qualifications could provide more value to students who do not complete their full degree programs.
The report also raises concerns about the stagnation or decline in literacy and numeracy skills among adults in OECD countries, including Germany, between 2012 and 2023. This indicates that expanding access to education alone is insufficient without ensuring the development of relevant skills.
The findings were reported by the German news outlet Tagesschau on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, citing the OECD report. The report was released by the OECD headquarters in Paris, France, and covers data collected from over 30 OECD and partner countries.
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