About VEBS
Almost 250 Christian schools and pre-schools. One shared faith.
We are VEBS, the Association of Free Evangelical Schools and Pre-Schools in Germany – in German: Verband Evangelischer Bekenntnisschulen und Kitas. More than 100 member organisations have joined together in VEBS: school and pre-school associations founded by parents. We are their spiritual home, their network and their voice.
Who we are
VEBS was founded in 2006 and is based in Karlsruhe. Our members run almost 250 schools and pre-schools throughout Germany – from pre-school to the Abitur (the German university entrance qualification) and vocational training. They teach according to their own curriculum or the state curriculum – permeated by the evangelical confession of faith. Their qualifications are fully recognised.
Every school and pre-school in VEBS can be traced back to parents who exercised a right guaranteed by the German Constitution: the right to found a school of their own.
Our members are independent of the regional Protestant churches (Landeskirchen). They come from many different churches and free churches – and share the same basis of faith.
Faith is not limited to religious education. It shapes every subject and the way people live and learn together. All staff at our schools and pre-schools share this faith.
What we do
- Accompany new foundationswebinars, a handbook and personal advice for parents and churches who want to start a school or pre-school
- Help find staffa job board with more than 150 vacancies and recruitment support for our members
- Train and equipthe VEBS Academy offers seminars, webinars and faith-based curricula
- Connectspecialist groups for school and pre-school leaders, managers, HR, finance and IT
- Adviseon legal matters, strategy, faith-based profile and staffing for boards, managers and school leaders
- Representour members to the public, in politics and in umbrella organisations
Our basis of faith
The Bible is the foundation of our work. All schools and pre-schools in VEBS affirm the Apostles' Creed and the Basis of Faith of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany.
This is why our schools may openly express their faith and invite pupils to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The German Constitution and the highest courts expressly confirm this. What a child or young person decides remains their own choice.
Partners and networks
- German Evangelical Alliance (Deutsche Evangelische Allianz, EAD)VEBS is a work of the Evangelical Alliance.EAD.de
- Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)We are a member of the worldwide association of Christian schools.ACSI.org
- Global Christian Schools NetworkWe work together with Christian schools internationally.Global-Christian-Schools.net
- In GermanyWe work closely with the Association of German Private Schools (VDP) and are a member of Netzwerk-m.
Founding a school in Germany
Article 7 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) guarantees parents the right to found independent schools – explicitly including confessional schools. To be approved, a school must keep up with state schools in its educational goals, facilities and teacher training, and it must not be a school only for the wealthy. We accompany founding teams from the first idea to approval, with webinars, a handbook and personal advice – all in German.
Working at our schools
Our job board lists more than 150 vacancies at Christian schools and pre-schools – for teachers, early years educators, leadership, administration and more. The job board is in German, and working at one of our schools requires good German. All staff share the Christian faith.
Get in touch
VEBS office · Blumentorstraße 16, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
+49 721 940862 0