Keeping a tried and tested system in place

2016 Report on Vocational Education and Training – the number of newly concluded training contracts in the craft trades has risen again for the first time since 2007. Despite this, it proved impossible to fill just under ten percent of training places in the craft trades sector. Dual training requires strong partners for the future.

The 2016 Report on Vocational Education and Training, which has recently been formally adopted by the Federal Cabinet, contains a welcome message for the training market. The ratio between school leavers seeking a training place and the number of training places on offer is the best it has been for 20 years. Nevertheless, the educational and training system has undergone considerable change during these 20 years.

More and more young people wish to enter higher education, the proportion of persons from a migrant background has risen sharply and the current focus is on acquiring young refugees for vocational education and training. Although the Report on Vocational Education and Training states that more than half of the cohort is commencing vocational education and training, this half comprised significantly more people 20 years ago. The fact that there were 41,000 training places remaining vacant as opposed to around 20,700 unplaced applicants should also give food for thought. Why are the young people who were not accommodated ascribed to vocational education and training?

We should by now have reached a consensus that VET, and VET in the craft trades in particular, cannot be viewed as a repair shop. It is likely that a disproportionate number of the unplaced applicants are from a migrant background. The 2015/16 training year brought very good news for our sector. In national terms, the number of newly concluded training contracts in the craft trades has risen again for the first time since 2007. Despite this, it proved impossible to fill just under ten percent of training places in the craft trades sector.

Two aspects should be noted. Firstly, this increase was achieved in spite of the fall in the number of school leavers due to demographic reasons. More and more young people with an intermediate or upper secondary school leaving certificates are entering an apprenticeship in the craft trades. Maybe this signifies initial success for the campaigns launched by the sector and by other partners. These also include the information campaign conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education: "You and your training – practically unbeatable!" The hope is that this will bring an end to the "craze for academisation".

The parents are the main group which needs to be targeted. They must finally understand that vocational training is not a cul-de-sac but a route which leaves all the options open. Nowadays, those with a master craftsman qualification can ultimately enter higher education in just the same way as persons in possession of the upper secondary school leaving certificate. The only difference is that the former have the advantage of having completed vocational education and training.

Many discussions are currently focused on whether young migrants offer the potential to counter the impending skilled worker shortage in trade and industry and in the craft trades in particular. This will not lead to success. Refugees can only be part of the skilled worker strategy. How refugees can be integrated into the labour market is the object of much debate. The integration of migrants and refugees can only be achieved if such persons can find their way into training or employment.

There are constant calls for abbreviated training occupations and for partial qualifications for this group in particular. Those making such demands should bear in mind that our tried and tested and internationally recognised dual training system must not be called into question because of a supposed exceptional situation. Secondly, Germany, and the craft trades sector in particular, is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers, not from a shortage of auxiliary staff.

Source: deutsche-handwerks-zeitung.de (news portal of 23 German Chambers of Crafts and Trades), revised by iMOVE, December 2016