Seizing the opportunity

Today, Paul Kaczmarczyk teaches metal technology. Originally it was recommended that he become a butcher.

Paul Kaczmarczyk's curriculum vitae is proof that the German school system offers everybody an opportunity. In Paul's case at least, if he sees an opportunity, he seizes it and is supported in the process. On the way to completing his "Master of Education" he had a lot of help from family and friends - he freely admits to that. After receiving the lower secondary school leaving certificate, it certainly seemed very unlikely that he would now be teaching metal technology at a technical school. After nine years of compulsory schooling, the advisor at the careers guidance centre recommended an apprenticeship as a butcher, book binder or glass blower.

"That was depressing," says Kaczmarczyk looking back. So depressing in fact that he went back to school for another year and completed the intermediate level school leaving certificate.

Kaczmarczyk says that this qualification managed to "open a few more doors", and he then started training as a technical draughtsman specialising in engineering.

Soon after the apprenticeship he saw the opportunity to acquire even more knowledge. At the technical school on Deroystrasse, where he works today as a teacher, Kaczmarczyk completed his state certified mechanical engineer qualification from 2004 to 2007, thus opening yet another door to the next stage in his career.

"I never actually wanted to study," he says. But neither did he wish to carry on working in the old job any longer. Finally, in 2010 at the "School of Education" at Munich Technical University, he began a vocational schools teacher training degree in the subject areas of metal technology and physics. It took five years to gain the master's. "This route takes a lot of perseverance," says Kaczmarczyk, who was born in Poland and came to Germany when he started primary school. He adds that we should be thankful that the school system allows this to happen. Somebody like him can really put himself in the position of the pupils and motivate them.

Kaczmarczyk cannot fully understand why there are so few vocational school teachers. He speculates that "a lot of people probably don't even realise that this occupation exists or how much it’s needed." At any rate, the 34 year old has found his purpose in life.


Source: sueddeutsche.de (website of the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung), revised by iMOVE, January 2019