Warum gibt es in Ostdeutschland weniger einwanderungsbezogene Bildungsungleichheit? Bedingungen der Bildungsbeteiligung und Lesekompetenz von Heranwachsenden mit Einwanderungsgeschichte in Ost- und Westdeutschland

Using data from the IQB country comparisons and educational trends from 2008/2009, 2012 and 2015, this article examines whether (1.) disparities in educational participation and reading competencies among students from immigrant and non-immigrant families are less pronounced in East Germany than in West Germany and (2.) whether and to what extent the lower ethnic educational inequality in East Germany can be attributed to smaller differences in (a) social origin, (b) social composition of school classes, and (c) early childhood education. Descriptively, it shows that there are significantly fewer or no ethnic educational disparities in East Germany. We even find advantages for student of the second immigrant generation in participating in upper secondary schools. Multivariable analyses show that the lower ethnic inequality in educational participation and reading competencies in East Germany is mainly due to lower ethnic inequality in social origin and the social composition of the school classes.

Automated summary

Using data from the IQB country comparisons and educational trends, this article examines the differences in educational participation and reading competencies between students from immigrant and non-immigrant families in East Germany compared to West Germany. The study finds that there are significantly fewer or no ethnic educational disparities in East Germany, and this is mainly due to lower inequality in social origin and the social composition of school classes.