Karliczek: Especially during the crisis, VET secures our economic power

The start of the training year saw Federal Minister of Education, Anja Karliczek, launch a wide-ranging information campaign to strengthen vocational education and training. Information about vocational education and training is now available on a new portal. It also addresses the current COVID-19 pandemic. Federal Minister of Education Karliczek explains:

"The new training year has begun. For many young people, this is now the beginning of a new and very important stage in their lives. This is because vocational education and training is a great launch pad for a successful working life.

The new training year has inevitably been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We are all feeling its effects. The economy is reporting losses in many sectors, and the training market is also under pressure. There has been a fall in the number of applicants for training, and also in the number of training positions available. However, the coronavirus crisis must not turn into a training crisis. We are therefore doing all we can to support dual vocational education and training. The Federal Government has introduced an unprecedented economic stimulus package. This includes the programme "Safeguard vocational training places" and we want to use this to strengthen SMEs which have been significantly affected and persuade them that now in particular is the time to invest in training.

Training is worthwhile. The new Vocational Training Act increased the attractiveness of vocational education training right at the start of the year. The new advanced training descriptions allow us to demonstrate the level of expertise those in our country with vocational qualifications have at their disposal. This helps to make clearer the strengths of our vocational education and training system. Our aim with the minimum training remuneration is to play our part in ensuring that young people, also over the coming years, opt for vocational education and training.

The intention is that the trainees and their families are made aware of the changes in the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the benefits of training. For this reason, the Federal Ministry of Education launched a broad-based information campaign at the start of the new training year. Important information about initial and advanced VET and about the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on vocational education and training can be found on our new portal www.die-duale.de. The purpose of the success stories is also to illustrate how proud we can be of our system. Dual vocational education and training makes those great, who make us great. It will also serve to secure our economic power in the future too."

The new "Die Duale" campaign

On 1 August 2020, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched a wide-ranging information offer under the slogan "Dual vocational education and training makes those great, who make us great". It shows the benefits of vocational education and training, and is aimed at parents, companies and the general public. One focus are the improvements in the new Vocational Training Act (BBiG) which entered into force on 1 January 2020. As part of this, a minimum remuneration for trainees, transparent qualification descriptions for the advanced training sector and improved part time regulations were introduced.

Start of training 2020

There was a hesitant start to the new training year. According to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), at the end of July there was almost a parallel decline in numbers of applicants (- 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year) and training positions (- 8.1 per cent compared to the previous year). Training fairs were unable to take place and interviews had to be postponed. Many young people are currently still seeking a training position and many companies still have positions available. In the last month alone, according to BA statistics, a further 22,013 applicants were registered along with 16,568 vacant training positions. Many trainees will also be starting their training on 1 September as normal. It will therefore be a few weeks before definitive statements regarding this year's situation can be made.

New portal: Die Duale