In 2023, significantly more people completed an integration course than in the previous year. According to Mediendienst Integration, the number of participants rose by 7 percent to 363,000–so many than never before. Almost half of the graduates (46 percent) came from Ukraine, while Syrians (10 percent) and participants from Afghanistan (8 percent) and Turkey (4 percent) made up other large groups. The other participants came from many different other countries. Mediendienst Integration refers to figures from the Federal Office for Migration (BAMF), the so-called integration course business statistics.
Last year, 294,372 men and women completed the German test for immigrants. More than half (56 percent) reached level B1, 33 percent completed the course at level A2 and eleven percent at A1. Various experts criticize the fact that the courses have not adapted sufficiently to the new course participants and that the learning groups are too large. “The quality suffers as a result,” writes Mediendienst Integration.
Integration courses have existed since 2006 and consist of a language course and an orientation course that provides information about German society and the legal system. The language course is aimed at level B1 and concludes with the “German Test for Immigrants”. At the end of the orientation course is the “Living in Germany” test. According to the Residence Act, the German authorities can oblige immigrants to take part in an integration course. Asylum seekers or recognized refugees are entitled to such a course. Anyone living in Germany with a tolerated stay permit or under the Opportunity Residence Act can take part if courses are available. “According to information provided by the BAMF to the media service, places were always available in 2023 and no application was rejected,” the report states. However, according to a report by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), there are in same cases long waiting times. The figures ranged from four to 18 months.
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Die bemalten Steine sind Symbole für eine vielfältige Gesellschaft. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
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