The Department of Education and Sports intends to encourage school administrators to move away from so-called “Exen” — short surprise written tests — and unexpected oral examinations.
Instead, the city aims to promote alternative forms of student assessment. According to the department, the goal is to provide students with a motivating learning environment where they can demonstrate their abilities without fear or public embarrassment. The message emphasized was: “We want learning to be associated with positive experiences.”
This initiative was prompted by a proposal from the Green Party/Rosa Liste faction on the city council, which advocates for greater voluntariness and empathy in school evaluation methods. The group’s education policy spokesperson, Anja Berger, expressed hope that many schools would follow the recommendation: “This way, we can create a climate that fosters joy in learning rather than fear of failure.” Some schools in the Bavarian capital have already stopped using surprise tests. Berger also directed criticism at the CSU in the state government, remarking: “Perhaps one day the CSU will realize that its education policy belongs to the past.”
More than 56,000 people support petition against surprise tests
The debate stems from a recent decision by the state parliament’s education committee, which rejected a motion to abolish unannounced tests altogether. The majority coalition of the CSU, Free Voters, and AfD voted against the proposal from the SPD and Greens. Prior to the vote, an online petition titled “End pop quizzes and surprise tests” had garnered support from over 56,000 people. The campaign’s initiator, 17-year-old student Amelie N., reacted with disbelief after the committee’s decision, saying she was “stunned.”
Munich school official criticizes state parliament’s decision
Florian Kraus, Munich’s school superintendent, sharply criticized the committee’s decision. He argued that the opportunity was missed to take a clear stand for a modern, fear-free evaluation culture. “From a pedagogical standpoint, unannounced assessments should be abolished,” said Kraus. “Fear is not a foundation for sustainable learning.” He described the decision as professionally unjustifiable and a step backward from the perspective of municipal education policy.
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