German education policy is characterized by short-sightedness and a zeal for reform. Hardly a year goes by without the ministries of education issuing extensive guidelines and decrees and demanding their prompt implementation. Equal treatment is the magic word, yet the consequences of its realization remain unreflected. Meanwhile, the Abitur is seen as an instrument for distributing social opportunities. This places enormous pressure on schools. Mindless interpretations of statistics and international comparisons are indicative of the disorientation of local education policy. At universities, bureaucratization is advancing due to the Bologna Process, and specialized research has largely detached itself from teaching. Commissions are appointed to evaluate and accredit, and the amount of third-party funding secured determines academic excellence.