German schools are increasingly struggling with the consequences of mass migration and the growing influence of conservative Islamic social norms inside classrooms, according to a recent investigative report published by German outlet Der Spiegel.
The report, published on 14 May, argues that the rapid demographic transformation of many urban schools—where children with migrant backgrounds, particularly Muslim pupils, now often form a majority—has fundamentally altered everyday school life in parts of Germany.
Der Spiegel describes a growing number of conflicts linked to Ramadan fasting, public prayer, headscarves, gender segregation, and pressure on students to conform to conservative religious expectations. According to teachers interviewed by the magazine, such tensions are no longer isolated incidents but have become an increasingly common feature of daily life in schools with large Muslim student populations.
Among the examples highlighted are cases in which Muslim pupils reportedly pressured classmates to fast during Ramadan, criticized students seen eating publicly, or accused non-fasting children of being ‘bad Muslims’. In one reported case, students were allegedly encouraged to throw away food during fasting periods.
The article also points to increasing tensions surrounding girls’ clothing and behaviour. Teachers reportedly described situations in which girls faced criticism for not wearing headscarves or for dressing ‘too Western’, while some schools also experienced disputes over mixed-gender sports classes, swimming lessons, and interaction between boys and girls. According to Der Spiegel, many of these conflicts occur within Muslim student communities themselves, particularly between more secular and more conservative pupils.
Another major theme of the report is the growing visibility of religion inside schools. Teachers and school administrators reportedly described demands for prayer spaces, public prayer during school hours, and broader disputes over how far schools should accommodate religious practices while maintaining institutional neutrality and social cohesion.
The investigation relies heavily on a recent study led by education researcher Margit Stein, according to which a significant share of surveyed teachers and school social workers reported religion-related conflicts or signs of radicalized attitudes among students.
The report also argues that German authorities and schools have often struggled to address the issue openly due to ‘fears of stigmatizing minorities’ or ‘fuelling anti-immigration sentiment’. According to Der Spiegel, many teachers feel insufficiently prepared to handle religion-related conflicts and fear accusations of racism or Islamophobia if they intervene too directly.
‘German authorities and schools have often struggled to address the issue openly due to “fears of stigmatizing minorities” or “fuelling anti-immigration sentiment”’
The structural challenge outlined in the report is being intensified by Germany’s rapidly changing demographics, a trend especially visible in schools. According to recent data, nearly half of all pupils nationwide now have a migration background, while in major cities such as Berlin and Hamburg the share already exceeds 50 per cent. In North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, nearly half of schools reportedly have a majority of pupils with migrant backgrounds, while in many primary schools the figure exceeds 75 per cent.
There have also been increasing reports in both legacy and social media concerning the behaviour of children with migrant Muslim backgrounds in classrooms where they form a majority. Critics point to a growing number of cases involving bullying and abuse targeting indigenous white children, who increasingly feel themselves to be among the primary victims of mass migration.
The political consequences of these developments are already becoming visible in the voting intentions of younger Germans. The right-wing anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) now leads in virtually every demographic group below the age of 50. Recent polling shows AfD leading nationally among voters aged 18 to 29 with 28 per cent support, while the party also tops surveys among voters in their 30s and 40s.
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