Integrationskurs

The law differentiates between the right (Section 44 of the Residence Act) and the obligation (Section 44a of the Residence Act) to participate. Eligible participants The prerequisite for participation is permanent residence in Germany and a German residence permit. Previously, asylum seekers and tolerated persons have not had access to the Integrationskurs according to Sections 43 et seq. of the Residence Act. This was changed by Article 3 No. 6 of the Asylum Procedure Acceleration Act of October 20, 2015, in Article 44 Paragraph 4 Clause 2 Residence Act new version in favor of persons with a residence permit (Article 5 Clause 2 IntV) to enable early language acquisition. However, registration is limited to three months after receipt of admission and depends on the places available on the course. Asylum seekers who come from a safe country of origin within Section 29a of the Asylum Act (Section 44 (4) sentence 3 of the Residence Act) are also excluded from participation. EU citizens have no legal right to participate in the Integrationskurs but can be admitted to the Integrationskurs by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) if places are available (Section 44 (3) sentence 1 of the Residence Act). In 2012, 94,020 people started the Integrationskurs; in 2014, the number was 142,439. Over 180,000 new participants were expected for 2015, and around 306,000 new participants were forecast for 2016, taking into account the opening of the Integrationskurs for asylum seekers and those with a toleration status. Obligation to participate : List of absences by reason of absence and excused/unexcused absence, as of 26 July 2013 Immigration authorities can oblige people to take part in the Integrationskurs if they do not have sufficient German language skills and if they receive unemployment benefits or are to be specially integrated for another reason. For example, they have to take care of an underage child who lives in Germany. The course provider checks proper participation (§ 8 Para. 3 IntV) and can be enforced by administrative means if necessary (§ 44a Para. 3 Residence Act). Legal consequences If someone has proof of having completed the Integrationskurs, the minimum period for naturalization is reduced from eight to seven years (Section 10 (3) StAG). Successful completion also serves as proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language before a settlement permit is issued (Section 9 (2) sentence 1 no. 7, sentence 2 of the Residence Act) or an EU long-term residence permit (Section 9a (2) sentence 1 no. 3, sentence 2 of the Residence Act) and will be taken into account when extending a residence permit (Section 8 (3) of the Residence Act). If participation in the Integrationskurs is provided for in an integration agreement under Book Two of the Social Code, a violation of the obligation to attend can also be sanctioned as a breach of duty with a reduction in benefits under Section 31 Paragraph 1 No. 1 SGB II (so-called refusal to integrate). ==Course content==

The Integrationskurs consists of two parts: a language course and an orientation course. The lessons usually take place all day in groups with participants from different mother tongues. Successful participation in the Integrationskurs is certified with the "Integrationskurs Certificate". Some educational institutions also offer so-called arrival courses. Language course Duration and structure The language course comprises 600 hours of instruction, divided into a basic and an advanced language course. The aim is sufficient language skills to ensure the integration of migrants in terms of social participation and equal opportunities. "Sufficient knowledge of the German language [...] is possessed by those who can find their way around independently in everyday life in their environment and, appropriate to their age and level of education, can hold a conversation and express themselves in writing (Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)", § 3 paragraph 2 IntV. If necessary, special courses can be offered aimed at different target groups. The language course comprises up to 900 hours of instruction • Integrationskurs for young adults under the age of 27 who are no longer of school age (youth Integrationskurs) • Integrationskurs for those entitled to participate who cannot attend a general Integrationskurs for family or cultural reasons (parents or women's Integrationskurs) • Integrationskurs with literacy • Remedial course for special language pedagogical needs The language course comprises only 400 hours of instruction in the intensive course. To determine the individual, possibly also special needs, the participants take a test to classify their language level (placement test) before the start of the language course. The German test for immigrants (DTZ) completes the language course. Content The primary curriculum for the language course defines the course's learning objectives and content. It represents the framework for the conception of various course models and their design. The examination objectives of the DTZ are also based on the curriculum framework. Development of the curriculum framework In connection with the entry into force of the Immigration Act on January 1, 2005, in Germany, the BAMF commissioned the Goethe-Institut in the autumn of 2006 to develop a curriculum framework for the Integrationskurs. The framework was published in 2007. To create the curriculum framework, the Goethe-Institut project group surveyed course participants and teachers as well as existing studies and works from other institutions (Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies, German Adult Education Association) and the Goethe-Institut itself ("Curriculum for designing a six-month language course for Aussiedler", 1991). In addition, the Goethe-Institut commissioned scientists from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) to "research and document the language needs of participants in the Integrationskurs by surveying institutions, course providers, and course participants (InDaZ)". under the heading "Aspects of interculturality", answers from respondents are listed that make it clear that intercultural aspects are essential in the course, especially in the final exam. A relatively narrow concept of culture seems to be adopted. The chapter "Language and culture of origin" mainly contains data on heterogeneity concerning the countries of origin of the course participants. The DTZ does not describe or discuss to what extent intercultural competence can be operationalized. Qualifications for teaching in the language course A university degree in German as a foreign or second language enables direct admission to teaching (§ 15 Paragraph 1 IntV). The BAMF specifies alternative ways to qualify (§15 paragraph 2 IntV). Since January 1, 2020, the additional capability for teachers has included five compulsory modules and two compulsory elective modules. Other people can qualify through a course to acquire a relevant recognized DaF / DaZ (university) certificate or through a DaF / DaZ qualification program from certain other educational institutions. Orientation course The 100-hour orientation course follows the respective language course. Knowledge of German history, society, and culture is imparted to the course participants to make it easier for them to deal with their fellow citizens and authorities daily. The orientation course concludes with the "Living in Germany" test. The orientation course initially comprised only 45 hours of instruction. It was increased to 60 hours in 2012 and to 100 hours in 2016 to enable an in-depth examination of the topics "Politics in a democracy", "History and responsibility", and "People and society". The BAMF is developing the curriculum for the orientation course. ==Evaluation==

Since January 1, 2006, the curricula, teaching and learning materials, and the content of the tests have been evaluated by an evaluation committee for quality control and further development of the concept of the Integrationskurs (§ 21 IntV). In 2011, the Federal Office presented the first detailed evaluation of the Integrationskurs as a research report 11 and attempted to identify the Integrationskurs as "effective and sustainable". In a detailed analysis of this evaluation, Günter Riecke contradicted this assessment in his study paper; the work concludes: The relative lack of success of the courses, given a pass rate of only 53% in 2012, is due to the lack of financial resources of the sponsors. This evaluation is an "eye-wash evaluation" written without relevantly qualified authors' involvement. The study contained numerous indications that the learning effect was weak up to 2012. Statistics from the Federal Office for Migration show a success rate of around 57% for the highest possible certificate in German (level of competence B1) for the first half of 2012. According to the Goethe-Institut, this demonstrates basic knowledge of conversational German and is a minimum requirement for employment in the Federal Republic of Germany can be seen. Another 35% of the test participants achieved the language level A2 below. This rate was also conducted from 2016 to 2018, where 66.9% or 52.0% of the participants achieved level B1 and 25.5% or 32.9% achieved level A2. ==Financing==

The institution conducting the Integrationskurs (course provider) receives a specific reimbursement of costs from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) (§ 20 Para. 6 IntV). The participants had to contribute 50% of the applicable cost reimbursement rate to the course costs (§ 9 IntV), from July 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, which was €1.95 per lesson. For registrations from January 1, 2021, the contribution is €2.20. Upon request, participants needing help will be exempted from the cost contribution. Successful participants can be refunded 50% of their cost contribution. Some federal states offer free courses for certain groups, such as refugees. Course providers such as language schools and other educational institutions are only economically viable for group lessons when 20 participants are enrolled. The maximum number of participants is 25. The fee for teachers in the Integrationskurs is at least 35 euros for freelancers. Participation and costs are regulated differently for specific groups by the Residence Act. A distinction is made between foreigners with a residence permit before or after 2005, German nationals, EU citizens, and late resettlers. Between 2005 and 2013, the federal government spent over 1.4 billion euros on the system for the Integrationskurs. In the federal budget for 2017, 610.077 million euros were earmarked for implementing the Integrationskurs, according to IntV. ==Expansion plans==

The coalition agreement for the 20th legislative period advocates the Integrationskurs for all people coming to Germany right from the start. ==See also==