Good secondary modern students: businesses providing vocational training mostly satisfied

Businesses hiring secondary modern graduates as apprentices are usually more than averagely satisfied with them – compared to their expectations. This is the result of a study by the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The young people's demeanour, external appearance and articulateness in particular largely satisfy the expectations of the trainers, yet the businesses are also happy with the occupational previous knowledge of the newly hired apprentices. Here, secondary modern graduates perform even slightly better than all other groups.

According to the study, however, businesses hiring secondary modern graduates invest also comparatively more commitment during the apprenticeship. For instance, furtherance of basic competences and German language skills, of team working capability and the use of in-company teaching all increase in parallel to higher numbers of secondary modern graduates being hired. Small and medium-sized businesses in particular increasingly support their apprentices well beyond their school lessons.

About 33 per cent of all new apprenticeship contracts are concluded with secondary modern pupils – in addition to young people with comprehensive school certificates, they constitute the second largest group. The study reveals that only about every third business providing vocational education and training apprentices also secondary modern graduates.

In the crafts, with 38 per cent, the share of newly hired apprentices with a secondary modern certificate in the vocational-technical field is above average. In industry and commerce, the rate is only at 24 per cent. According to the BIBB, this means that potential for staffing open apprenticeship placements remains untapped.

However, it is of central importance for the future of the dual system of vocational education and training that businesses should intensify their attention in supporting youths who so far have had less favourable opportunities in the vocational training market, says BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser. In spite of a rising number of unstaffed apprenticeship placements, this applies in particular to youths with a secondary modern school leaving certificate. "We must counteract this mismatch in the vocational education and training market with increased efforts", demands Esser.

In spite of declining numbers of school graduates and the simultaneously rising demand for skilled labour on part of the industry, a large number of young people do not immediately find a fully qualifying vocational education and training placement. In particular secondary modern graduates often achieve this only after a lengthy period of search and participation in transitional programmes.

In order to help businesses in providing vocational training for less well qualified youths, the BIBB holds the opinion that policy makers should provide support, for example, by way of introducing external vocational training management or assisted vocational education and training as well as the establishment of additional lessons at vocational colleges. Cross-company vocational education facilities likewise provide an opportunity for improving the chances of secondary modern pupils in obtaining an apprenticeship.