Historical Competence in Upper Secondary Education in Germany

: Focusing on ‘EPA Geschichte’

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to clarify the view of scholastic ability of students in upper secondary History Education in Germany through the analysis of the EPA-Geschichte published by KMK (The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany) for history in the abitur-examination. The article shows that the EPA-Geschichte regards history lessons as an opportunity for historical narration and the examination of history as further opportunity for historical narration, since History Education aims to foster the ability for a well-grounded construction of history through the interpretation of historical materials, examination of historical descriptions, and production of historical descriptions in upper classes of grammar schools.