"Never regard study as a duty but as an enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy."
The children start attending kindergarten (Kindergarten) from 3 years of age, although it is not compulsory education until age 6, when primary or elementary school starts (Hauptschule).
Once children finish Hauptschule, they begin to define their professional orientation together with their parents. This means they need to decide the type of secondary school most appropriate for the student's education goals. They will pick one of the following options.
Realschule (vocational training): is between elementary school and sixth form colleges or high schools (Gymnasium). Once completed, the student obtains an upper degree that gives access to special technical vocational schools, to secondary technical schools and to the upper level of secondary education (Gymnasium II).
Gymnasium (High School): it delves deeper into academic areas and concludes with the examination called Abitur.
Once students pass the Abitur, they can access university or colleges.