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2.2 STATE-OF-THE-ART FINDINGS FROM GERMANY

2.2.1 STATE-OF-THE-ART OF NATIONAL DIGITALIZATION AND DIGITAL
COMPETENCE LEVEL IN THE POPULATION

THE NATIONAL DIGITAL STRATEGY
In terms of national digitization strategies, politicians regularly discussed their desire to
digitize the state. The realization of these digitization approaches has proven to be
relatively slow compared to neighboring European countries. The desire to digitize is
being slowed down by infrastructural limitations like slow internet connections rela-
tive to that of neighboring countries. The national digitization plan would specifically
involve improving the digital grid in Germany.
In Germany digitization in the educational system is currently not very widespread.
2021 assessments of digitization of German classrooms as the result of the Covid pan-
demic show that in a survey of thirteen countries, Germany was the twelfth most digit-
ized. Whereas the average percent of classrooms that use digital learning was 78.2%
for countries assessed, the percent of German classrooms that use digital tools is at
60.2%. It is worth mentioning that the assessment performed does not look at what
types of digital tools are included.

2.2.2 DIGITAL COMPETENCES AND SKILLS AMONG CITIZENS
Within the German population digitization is widespread. The younger generations
use more technology than older generations. It should be noted that the older genera-
tion appears to use technology less than the same age population in neighboring coun-
tries.

VULNERABLE ADULT LEARNERS
However, in Germany there is a clear need for newly designed learning programs that
motivate learners and transform them to active learners to engage them in continu-
ous learning. As a result of teachers being overwhelmed or under prepared for digital
learning, there is less time to focus on teaching & engaging their students. For this rea-
son, dropout rates have increased amongst vulnerable group learners in adult educa-
tion.
A 2021 OECD study found that Germany showcases some of the largest inequalities in
continuous learning programs. Vulnerable groups, ie. adult learners, low wage work-
ers, and workers in SMEs, have the lowest participation rates. This is found to be a re-
sult of financial and temporal restraints and non-flexible learning opportunities. For
this reason, Germany should focus on creating more flexible learning opportunities for
these groups to encourage participation rates.