Berlin. Arts and Education

Ethnic groups and religion. Citizens of other countries make up about one-tenth of Berlin's population. Many of these non-Germans arrived as guest workers, laborers who came to find jobs. About half the guest workers are Turkish. Foreigners also came from Greece, Italy, Poland, Russia, the United States, the former Yugoslavia, and various African and Asian nations.

The population of Berlin has grown rapidly since the end of World War II, when it had dropped to only 2,300,000. Factors contributing to the population growth included the return of residents evacuated during the war and a flow of East Germans into East Berlin. The large number of foreigners immigrating to the city also increased the population. Since the unification of the two Germanys, hundreds of thousands of newcomers have poured into the city.

About 75 percent of Berliners are Protestant, mostly Lutheran. Roman Catholics make up about 10 percent of the population. Several other religions are practiced by small segments of the population.

The arts. Berlin is a world-renowned center of culture. Its festivals and exhibits attract thousands of visitors each year. More than 50 nations take part in the Berlin Film Festival every year in February. Each September, the Berlin Festival Weeks highlight the start of the concert, opera, and theater season. Berlin has several major theaters, including the German Opera, Theater am Kurfürstendamm, German Theater, State Opera, and Comic Opera. The city is famous for its cabarets, cafes that offer entertainment, including political skits and comic songs. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's finest orchestras.

Libraries and museums. Important museums in Berlin include a group of state museums in the Dahlem district, among them a painting gallery and an anthropological museum. Museum Island has the National Gallery; the Pergamon Museum, which houses the famous classical Greek Pergamon Altar; and the Bode Museum. Other museums are scattered throughout the city. Berlin has several important libraries. The German State Library is the world's largest German-language library. Other major libraries include the American Memorial Library and the libraries at Humboldt University, Free University, and Technical University.

Education. Berlin has the largest number and greatest variety of institutions of higher learning and research anywhere in Germany. Besides the three major state universities, there are several academies of music and art and private colleges. Other schools specialize in architecture, dance, education, film, and medicine.

Berlin is not only a city but also a state of Germany and controls its own public education system. All public schools in Berlin, including the state universities, are free. Kindergarten is available to all children ages 3 through 5, followed by six years of elementary school through age 11. After elementary school, students must then choose one of three secondary school tracks: (1) a four-year program to prepare for a trade; (2) a four-year program leading to a job in engineering or another technical field; and (3) a seven-year program to prepare for a university.