Like any other migrants in Germany, the parent of the Filipino child must bring the child and papers in the Einwohnermeldungsamt (Inhabitants Record Office) and the Local Foreign Affairs Office. The permanent residency given to one biological parent in Germany could also be awarded to the child. The length of stay of the parent becomes the length of stay of the child.
What are the rights of the Filipino child (and any other foreign children) in Germany?
1. Base on their laws, it is prohibited for a parent to whip or hurt his child. The parent or legal guardian can be imprisoned.
2. The child is granted with Kindergeld (literaly, child's money). It is a financial help from the government given to a child in Deutschland until 18 years old. The parent or legal guardian must use this Kindergeld for the needs of the child. Once the child reaches 18 years old, he or she can no longer avail of the Kindergeld.
3. Any minor child is subject to the teachings and authority or decision of the parents as long as for the common good.
4. Any child has the right to education. Schools in Germany provide for other books and other educational materials the child needs. He is subject to choose whether or not he will undergo Religion classes in school only when he reaches 14 year old. Below this age, the parents decide for the child concerning religious subjects.
5. Any child below 18 years old can be entitled to have his or her bank account provided that both parents allow him or her by affixing the signature of both parents. Only one signature of the parent is not allowed. However, when the child turns 18 years old, he or she can avail his or her own bank account after fulfilling the requirements of the bank.
6. When the child is absent in school for an unreasonable length of time without any valid reason, the teacher can send the police to the home address of the child to determine the actual situation or why the child is not going to school.
7. When a child below 18 years old fights his or her parents back, physically rebellious or the likes, he or she will be subject to the laws of the Jugendamt. It is not a prison for minors. Rather, it is a place where the child will be placed under custody. He goes to school within the supervision of the Jugendamt and reports to Jugendamt as prescribed by law.
What should a parent do when his child arrives in Germany?
The first word that comes to a parents' mind is education. The parent must send the child to school if he is in school age. In Germany, there are 16 Bundesländer (Regions). Each Bundesland has its own schoolyear schedule. For example, in Hamburg or Hessen or Niedersachsen, the schoolyear starts somewhere in August. In Baden-Württemberg, schoolyear starts in September. School rules depend from Bundesland to Bundesland.
However, you should know that when a child is 16 years old when he left the Philippines, he has to undergo a basic german language test. If he is below 16 years old, he does not need to have any test. In some regions, some schools offer a class for international students, where they have to learn the german language first before they will be allowed to join the regular german class. It depends on the child how fast he can learn and it also depends on the cooperation of the parent on how well he can support his child to learn the language fast.
Children, I would say, are fast-learners. Be careful though. They can learn both good and bad as fast as they can, too.
A little background of German Educational System
Kindergarten is a german word for a school for small children from three years old up to 6 years old. In the Philippines, we also have Kindergarten stage. These are also for 6 years old and below who want to go to school. In Germany, after a child finishes Kindergarten level, he can go to Grundschule (Primary School). This level of schooling is from Klasse 1 to Klasse 4 (Grade 1 to 4).
When a child finishes Grade 4, this is the turning point. He goes to Grade 5. Starting Grade 5, a child may go to Realschule, Hauptschule, or Gymnasium. Realschule is normally from Grade 5 to 10. Gymnasium is Grade 5 to 12 while Hauptschule is normally from Grade 5 to 9. Some school rules vary from every Bundesland (Region). Normally, the child learns two foreign languages in Gymnasium while only one in Real or Hauptschule.
