In order to counter the shortage of skilled workers, Germany must support young people with a migration background, believes the author.
(Photo: Christina wocintechchat on unsplash)
Even great personalities in history can be wrong now and then. Like former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (SPD), who claimed that it was a mistake that Germany brought guest workers from foreign cultures into the country in the 1960s. He was wrong about that.
Without the recruitment agreements that Germany began to conclude almost exactly 66 years ago, the German economy would be significantly weaker today. The miracle of the post-war period, namely that the losing state of Germany experienced an incomparable upswing, was also thanks to the workers invited from all over the world.
And many guest workers from back then gave Germany another chance: They stayed and made this country their home. Your children and grandchildren grew up in Germany and are now offering helping hands as the German economy moves into a modern future. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to.
Because the German education system too often fails to support children with a migrant and working-class background. Many report a lack of support or even discrimination based on their origin.
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After the fourth (sometimes after the sixth) grade, the decision is made whether a child is allowed to go to high school. German-German academic children make their way up, while working-class children with a migration background often fall by the wayside.
Germany needs the potential of all young people
Those who do pass the Abitur often go to the possibly poorer universities in order to stay close to their families and save money. A potential penalty on the résumé if you have to assert yourself against candidates from elite universities when applying. Especially when a Turkish, Lebanese or Vietnamese name is added.
Germany cannot afford to let the potential of young people with a migration background go unused. As in the 1960s, the country is still short of workers today. The shortage of skilled workers will become a central problem for companies and administrations in the coming decades.
Targeted educational support and structures are therefore required from an early age that also take into account the reality of guest worker families. But to do this, Germany would first have to recognize the potential that immigrated to this country more than 60 years ago – and how it could be better used.
More: How Germany wastes migrants’ tech potential.