Stockach: Vocational college centre programme improves career entry

Four young men have achieved a good start into working life at the Berufsschulzentrum vocational college. They are graduates of the programme 'Kooperative berufliche Bildung und Vorbereitung für den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt' (Co-operative vocational education and training and preparation for the general labour market), which helps people with disabilities to launch themselves into a career.


Marcel Hofmann has achieved his goal: as of September, the 22-year-old will be permanently employed with a gardener and landscape gardener. "I am looking forward to the job", he says with evident pride. Together with Joachim Scheppe, Julian Wehrle and Dennis Stumpf, he celebrates his graduation from the Berufsschulzentrum (BLZ – Vocational college centre). They, too, will start working in the late summer, in jobs in the building industry, at a municipal builder's yard and in a psychiatry cafeteria, respectively. They are graduates of the Kooperative berufliche Bildung und Vorbereitung auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt (KoBV – Co-operative vocational education and training and preparation for the general labour market), which provides work placements to help people with disabilities to obtain jobs that are subject to social security contributions.

Karl Beirer, Head of the BLZ, is likewise proud of the achievements of these four graduates. "We shall dispense with the sentence 'It isn't possible!'", he says. One of the fields the vocational college in Stockach focuses on, he adds, is supporting slow learners.

Three days per week on the job, two days at the college: that was the routine for the graduates. Job coach Gerd Biedermann was the link between the employers and the college and, together with the young men, he analysed the working weeks. He emphasises that one is dependent on businesses. Marcel's employer Daniel Deringer openly admits that initially he was sceptical until he received feedback from his employees. "For us it is important that he is there. He is reliable and punctual", he praises the knowledge-hungry student.

Rudolf Thieser from the integration special service in Radolfzell likewise assesses that Marcel has worked his way up during the work placement. The 22-year-old already has targeted his next project. He wants to obtain a driving licence. The integration measure is funded by the Employment Agency. The regional organiser is Caritas in Singen and the measure is supported by the integration special service in Radolfzell.

But what about the young men's remuneration? The minimum wage is guaranteed; if the job is covered by a labour agreement, then the agreed wages are paid.

However, the employer is not solely responsible for paying the wages. Two to three months prior to starting in the job, the integration special service assesses the support needs of the respective employee. In co-operation with the Employment Agency, the incentives are subsequently determined, which the agency may pay for up to three years. After that, the Integration office assumes responsibility for the funding. In the event of progress, the employer will take over the entire wages, although frequently the funding has to continue on a permanent basis.


Source: Newspaper Suedkurier, suedkurier.de, press article, revised by iMOVE, August 2015