Germany is planning to introduce a “student ID” (Schüler-ID), a unique number assigned to each student to track their educational journey across the country.
The initiative, supported by the CDU/CSU and SPD parties, aims to standardize educational data and ensure students’ progress is easily monitored. The ID will be designed to be compatible across federal states and adhere to data protection regulations. Eventually, it is expected to be linked with the citizen’s ID (Bürger-ID).
A similar proposal was put forward in the early 2000s but was met with strong opposition from data protection experts. However, politicians argue that the new system is crucial for preventing students from “getting lost” in the education system. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the issue, with many teenagers dropping out of school and not enrolling elsewhere, making it harder to track their educational progress.
The proposed system would make it easier to identify students who need additional support to complete their education. Some suggest issuing the ID when a child enters kindergarten and tracking them through to vocational school or university. However, the specifics of what data will be included in the system remain unclear.
Stefan Düll, chairman of the teachers’ union, has expressed concerns, warning that the ID should not become an overbearing administrative burden. “The focus should be on identifying the need for support in a timely manner,” he emphasized.
