First-ever Pilot Monitor of Civic Education launched in Germany
How do students experience civic education? Where is it taught, and how are educators prepared to teach it? These questions are at the center of the new “Pilot Monitor of Civic Education”, now available for download. Developed by an inter-university research team led jointly by Prof. Dr. Hermann Josef Abs (University of Duisburg-Essen), Prof. Dr. Tim Engartner (University of Cologne), Prof. Dr. Reinhold Hedtke (Bielefeld University) and Prof. Dr. Monika Oberle (Goethe University Frankfurt), and funded by Germany’s Federal Agency for Civic Education, the report presents the first-ever set of indicators designed to monitor civic education across different sectors in the country. Work on the Monitor first began in 2021.
Why civic education matters more than ever
Civic education plays a vital role in democratic societies, especially in times of rapid social and political change. Yet Germany lacks consistent, reliable data on how civic education is implemented and who has access to it. The “Pilot Monitor” aims to close this gap by offering a snapshot of current conditions – and a framework for future monitoring.
The “Pilot Monitor” collects and analyzes data across four key areas: Schools (general and vocational), higher education, teacher training (second and third phases), as well as non-formal education (out-of-school learning). It examines how civic education is delivered, who provides it, and how well institutions prepare educators to teach it. Importantly, it also identifies where crucial data is still missing.
Key insights
Unequal access in schools: Opportunities for civic education vary widely depending on federal state, school type, and students’ backgrounds. Socioeconomically disadvantaged students, in particular, often face limited access – both in term of quality and quantity.
Gaps in higher education: Universities rarely offer targeted programs to prepare students for teaching civic education in non-formal settings. Most training focuses only on classroom-based instruction. By contrast, teachers of all subjects acquire only insufficient knowledge in their educational science studies of how – and to what extent – they can and must contribute to civic education.
Teacher qualification challenges: Many civic education classes in schools are taught by teachers without subject-specific training. While continuing education for these teaching staff is critical, it remains patchy and underdeveloped.
Non-formal education varies by region: The density of providers and learning spaces for civic education differs from one region to another. Despite being broadly accessible, these programs still struggle to reach all population groups equally. Instructor pay also tends to fall below what’s expected for their qualifications and responsibilities.
What’s next?
The “Pilot Monitor” is more than a one-off report – it lays the foundation for a recurring, data-based monitoring system that can:
- Spot emerging challenges in civic education
- Improve policy responsiveness
- Highlight data gaps and improve data collection
- Inspire further research and national reporting
The pilot monitor on political education was presented to the public on June 10, 2025 at the Leibniz Association in Berlin.
It is available for free download: https://www.bpb.de/shop/buecher/schriftenreihe/561272/pilotmonitor-politische-bildung
