A recent study by the Ifo Institute has revealed that Germany spends an estimated €206 million annually on behavioral grades, often referred to as “head grades” assigned to students. The findings, published Monday, raise questions about the resource allocation and potential inefficiencies within the German education system.
The study’s authors contend that these behavioral assessments do not demonstrably impact students’ academic success or their future career prospects. According to Ifo researcher Vera Freundl, teachers dedicate an average of 30 minutes per student per school year to assign these grades, a considerable investment of time that could be utilized more productively, particularly given the ongoing teacher shortage.
The calculation of this substantial cost is based on a survey of 246 educators. The survey data indicated a significant level of involvement in the grading process, with 92% of teachers reporting that multiple educators participate in assigning behavioral grades. In some cases, up to eleven teachers can be involved, contributing to a complex and time-consuming process that typically occurs on a semi-annual basis. Factoring in the average salary for teaching staff within Germany, based on a 40-hour workweek, the annual expenditure on these grades approximates €206 million.
Further analysis undertaken by the study’s author, Florian Schoner, suggests that behavioral grades have a negligible effect on reading comprehension and social skills. “The analysis of various datasets shows that head grades do not have a noticeable effect on reading competency and social competency” Schoner stated. This lack of impact may be partly attributable to the fact that academic grades already inherently factor in student behavior within the classroom environment.
