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Minister of State Pieper voices support for German Government’s German Schools Abroad Act
Today (13 September) Minister of State Pieper is hosting the Second International Education Day at Berlin’s Allianz Forum. The motto of this year’s Education Day is Demographics and Meeting the Demand for Skilled Labour.
The looming shortage of skilled workers is one of the major challenges which our society will have to tackle in future. The Second International Education Day is intended to highlight the role which Germany’s promotion of education plays in mastering this challenge.
Minister of State Cornelia Pieper issued the following statement today:
“German schools abroad are solid pillars of our values-based foreign policy. Their educational work and their high level of independence, partly due to the fact that they have their own budgets, make them a model for the German educational system.
These schools play an important part in meeting the demand for skilled labour and developing Germany’s role as a centre for science and research. That is why it is my aim to provide a sound legal foundation for the excellent work of our schools abroad.”
The Federal Foreign Office’s partners are the 140 German schools abroad and the other schools which form part of the “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH) initiative and are supported by the Central Agency for Schools Abroad and the Goethe-Institut, as well as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Educational Exchange Service.
In the 21st century, education is key to Germany’s development as an important centre of industry, research and higher education. The Education Day is an opportunity for the Federal Foreign Office to celebrate the multifaceted potential of promoting education abroad. The Education Day is also intended to create closer links among industry, politics and future skilled workers from abroad.
Former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher is expected to attend the ceremony as guest of honour, and former Minister Professor Marion Schick as keynote speaker.
