Recent developments in Germany
At the moment, the state is in the process of developing a new coalition agreement. The new agreement is expected to extend the National Decade for Literacy and put a stronger focus on family and workplace-centred basic skills. The government has also initiated the “National Strategy for Continuing Education”, which focuses largely on digital transformation and workplace learning. An investigation commission (Enquete-Kommission) has been set up in the parliament to approach the “Strengthening of vocational training to secure a qualified workforce in the future”. The coalition agreement is also expected to support the establishment of a new “National Education Council”, which would increase awareness of educational barriers at a national level, bringing representatives of different regions together. It is supposed to transform the existing system of land-level educational regulations, although the process of deciding its structure and functionality could be lengthy, not to mention challenging.