Education and Research

SPD

The SPD wants spending on research and development to increase to three percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2010 -- a third of which will be financed by the government, two thirds by industry. It is in favor of introducing nation-wide education standards in day care centers. The SPD, which has initiated a full day school program (in Germany, schools usually run till noon), wants to give the federal states an additional four million euros to set up 10,000 more full day schools in the country. University studies will continue to be free, but only for the first degree -- a plan designed to reduce the number of years many German students spend before entering the workforce. The BaföG or financial support for students from the government, will remain untouched and will be converted into a complete student loan.

CDU/CSU

Starting 2010, the Union aims to invest three percent of GDP yearly in research and development. In addition to the already agreed so-called "initiative for excellence" -- that means in addition to the 1.9 billion euros meant to promote top study courses and so-called elite universities -- a further one billion euros will flow into research and development. That will be financed by reducing subsidies elsewhere. The universities will be allowed to impose tuition fees.

The Greens

The Greens want to raise spending on research and development to three percent of GDP by 2010. The party wants to introduce a free pre-school year to better prepare all children for school entry. The Greens want to abolish the three-tier school system, which streamlines kids from an early age, and focus on full day schools instead. In the future, educators will be trained at technical colleges. The party favors a low-interest study credit and a state-promoted "Bildungssparen" -- loans that are only meant to be used to finance studies. The first university degree will be free of cost and the BaföG will be improved upon. Young scientists will be entitled to flexible wage agreements.

FDP

The FDP aims to focus on pre-school education. It plans on introducing nation-wide education standards for day care centers. Their quality will be guaranteed through a system of certifications. Preparing young children for school will also include conducting language tests. The FDP also wants to reduce the age at which children enter schools to five from the current six. Educators, or at least heads of day care centers, will be trained at technical colleges (instead of the current structure which requires no higher education for day-care instructors), thereby improving the quality of instruction. The party is in favor of tuition fees and for more autonomy and competition between different universities.

The Left Party

The newly-formed Left party wants to increase spending on education and research to six percent of GDP. The three-tier school system will be abolished, instead students will go to a common school until the 10th grade. University education will be free of cost. The party wants to introduce a system, whereby companies who don't offer traineeships for young people will have to pay a penalty.