PASCH three years on – a positive assessment

A global network of schools is being built through the PASCH partner school initiative. Pupils at these schools are not just given the opportunity to learn German and enjoy German education. This cultural relations initiative is designed to arouse a lasting interest in modern-day Germany and the German language in young people – especially in the priority regions of Asia, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe. Enlarge image (© Eric Miller)

The German Foreign Office is responsible for coordinating PASCH, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA), the Goethe-Institut (GI), the Educational Exchange Service of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (PAD) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The German Bundestag made available 45 million euro for the implementation of the initiative in 2008, and 54 million euro in 2009 and 2010. The sum of 51 million euro has been provided for 2011.

PASCH three years on – a positive assessment
The partner schools initiative has been quite a success: the network includes 1500 schools, about 1000 more than in 2008. Twenty-three German Schools abroad have joined, 430 additional schools are introducing the German language diploma, and another 509 new members of the network are introducing German as a foreign language or expanding their teaching of German.

The success of the PASCH initiative highlights the increased interest in Germany and the great demand for German. Learning from and about one another and the exchange about common interests strengthens both the PASCH initiative and the learning community. The positive way in which the initiative has been received also makes plain that PASCH is providing the schools with a high-quality programme. This means that, even apart from language classes, school development is improved and the sphere of education strengthened, above all in the priority and growth regions as well as in countries benefiting from development cooperation (ODA countries).
Whereas the priority between 2008 and 2010 was to build up the network of partner schools, the focus in future will be on improving the quality of teaching, networking the PASCH schools with each other and with schools in Germany, and strengthening the link between school and higher education or the world of work.

Enlarge image PASCH - Partner School Initiative (© Federal Foreign Office)
What 2011 holds in store for PASCH
This year, it is above all a matter of consolidating the network, making it sustainable and ensuring the German language is promoted. The networking between schools is to be further strengthened and lessons are to be continuously improved. The initiative’s partners have developed a series of measures to breathe life into the network, to improve it and to shape it for the future.
The Internet platform of the initiative (www.pasch-net.de) is a particularly important instrument to promote networking and communication for pupils and teachers. Alongside many interactive elements to improve knowledge of the German language, there are also games and international competitions for pupils. Teachers can practise highly modern digital lessons on the learning platform, find out more about methodology and didactics and read tips on how to improve their German lessons and make them more innovative.
German companies are also to be involved more in PASCH as they themselves ultimately benefit from the initiative. Only if they commit themselves to the initiative can it reach its full potential. There are many different ways in which companies can support their future partners: through scholarships or placements, equipment aid for schools or by supporting individual projects. The sky is the limit!