The country needs master craftsmen

Master craftsmen are the interface between theory and practice, however increasingly few Germans are completing a master craftsman course. The Education Ministry is therefore providing new incentives.

In 2015, there was a reduction in the number of people receiving the master craftsman grant for the first time in 7 years. The Federal Statistical Office recorded a fall of almost 6 per cent to 162,000 recipients compared to the previous year. Udo Kleinegees manages the educational grant section. "I assume that everybody completing upgrading training at least utilizes the grant element," he says. This means that the number of people being supported is equivalent to people in the country taking part in upgrading training. And this number is falling.

Minister of Education, Johanna Wanka, has responded to this trend; the master craftsman grant becomes the upgrading grant. "By amending the Upgrading Training Assistance Act, we are clearly indicating the attractiveness of vocational advancement," explains Wanka. The upgrading grant is not age dependent. It is comprised of a grant covering course and examination fees — and also the work presented to achieve the master craftsman qualification - as well as an offer from KfW bank of a loan at favourable rates.

The question remains as to whether more money will help to increase the number of master craftsmen. Wanka is pleased, ultimately, about the continued trend towards university study and that the level of training in Germany is continually rising.

During 2000, one third of a cohort were studying, and today, according to the 2016 Federal Education Report, the figure has almost doubled. Conversely however, more students mean less trainees and therefore less master craftsmen in a few years' time.

The master craftsman grant was introduced in 1996 to enable people with completed vocational education and training to take upgrading training. Over the past 20 years, 1.9 million recipients have been supported with a total of approximately €7.4 billion. "At the start more than two thirds came from the skilled crafts, now it is just less than one third," explains Kleinegees. Two thirds of those supported in 2015 were men. The most frequently occurring occupations receiving support were industrial master craftsmen in the metalworking industry, followed by state certified mechanical engineers and automotive engineering technicians For the women, state certified teacher came ahead of certified business administrator and master hairdresser.

The amendment means there is not only more money, but also more people able to use the support. Those entitled to support include graduates with bachelor's degrees who want to complete a master's qualification or those who have dropped out of study who are looking to make a fresh start in vocational education and training. The state is also providing more money for costs of upgrading training and maintenance with increased tax allowances.

However, only those engaged in a full-time training activity will receive the maintenance contribution. The Federal Ministry of Education have created a website specifically for this purpose. Those entitled to funding can find all information regarding the online application here.