THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
A new migration report released by the German charity Malteser Hilfsdienst highlights persistent educational and labour market disadvantages facing children and young people with migration backgrounds in Germany.
The study, presented as the Malteser Migrationsbericht 2025, delivers sobering figures: in 2023, 74 percent of students without any school-leaving certificate came from migrant families, although people with a migration background make up only about a quarter of Germany’s overall population. The data also shows that nearly half of individuals without vocational training credentials stem from immigrant households.
Despite the fact that more than a third of pupils in Germany now have migration heritage, these children continue to underperform in standardised assessments, particularly in mathematics and natural sciences. The report identifies language barriers and insufficient early childhood support as key factors. Around 14 percent of children in publicly funded daycare do not speak German at home, and while 77 percent of children aged three to six with a migration background attend early childhood institutions, the rate is still far behind the 99 percent of their peers without migration history.
The report also sheds light on major challenges in the labour market. Though integration has advanced since 2015, lengthy recognition procedures for foreign qualifications, delays in issuing work permits and bureaucratic obstacles continue to hamper job entry. Experts quoted in the study call for faster recognition of foreign degrees and a more pragmatic approach to allow qualified migrants to work at their skill level without years of waiting. As Malteser CEO Elmar Pankau stressed, “early integration is not generosity—it is an investment in the future.”
Implications for Africans in Germany
For Africans living in Germany, the findings are particularly relevant. Many African families face similar challenges of navigating the school system, accessing language support and ensuring that their children are not left behind. Lower participation rates in early childcare and hurdles in recognising foreign qualifications directly affect Africans, many of whom work in jobs not commensurate with the higher qualifications they attained in their countries of origin.
The Malteser report is therefore a reminder that education and employment remain the two most critical arenas for integration. Without targeted support, such as expanded language programmes, mentorship initiatives and quicker recognition of African credentials, the risk of exclusion and wasted potential remains high. For African parents and community leaders, the study underlines the importance of early engagement with schools and local institutions to secure better prospects for the next generation.
Vivian Asamoah
