Federal and State Governments Must Deliver on Social Mobility Promises

German Employers’ President Dr Rainer Dulger on the PISA Study: 

Federal and State Governments Must Deliver on Social Mobility Promises

Berlin, 8 September 2026. „PISA has once again issued a wake-up call to Germany. This time, policymakers must act on its findings.

We need to focus education on outcomes: every child should leave school equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for vocational training, higher education and employment. Federal and state governments must deliver on this promise of social mobility in a way that is binding, measurable and independent of a child’s background or place of residence. Education is a core responsibility of the state.

In practical terms, this means introducing more binding educational standards, conducting regular assessments of learning progress and providing targeted support for schools facing the greatest challenges. Teachers need training that better prepares them for the realities of the classroom. Schools require modern facilities and equipment, along with clear objectives defining what pupils should know and be able to do. We must also take a much closer look at which programmes genuinely deliver results, rather than continually launching new ones.“