Print version Recommend this page Press release
18/ 2006
Bonn, 14.06.2006
Federal Education Minister Schavan in BWP Interview: "Training Pact Must Generate a New Dynamics"
The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr. Annette Schavan, has called for a new dynamics of the "National Pact for Education and Training and Young Skilled Workers". "To meet our vocational education and training requirements, we need new company-based training positions precisely in the research-related areas, in innovative branches and in those where employment is growing", she asserted in an interview in the current issue of the journal "Vocational Training in Research and Practice (BWP)", published by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The Minister also spoke out in favour of more full-time school opportunities for education and training that qualify students for the labour market.
For BIBB President Manfred Kremer as well, with the shortage of company-based training positions that prevails at the present time it makes no sense to reject alternative education and training opportunities. Kremer stressed in his comment that unreserved cooperation is needed between the regional economy, chambers, vocational schools and other educational establishments. With new forms of dual cooperation, first-class supplementary vocational education and training opportunities are to be developed. Productive education chains must arise from unproductive wait loops. "The goal is to make a recognised vocational training certificate that is in demand in the labour market accessible if possible to all young people within three years after they finish school."
"Young People in Training!" is the title of the new issue of the BIBB journal "Vocational Training in Research and Practice (BWP)". The journal presents scientific background information on the situation on the training position market based on the results of BIBB research. It shows how in practice appropriate pilot projects can help solve problems. The 13 articles deal with these topics among others:
- Young People in Training: Wish and Reality
The interest of the younger generation in receiving training under the dual system of vocational education and training remains unbroken. The latest BIBB survey of school leavers confirms that fact. However, owing to the tense situation on the training position market, many of the young people's wishes went unrealised in 2005 as in earlier years. Most young people continue to want company-based training even though they end up elsewhere, so that, according to the survey, we have to reckon with a latent demand on the part of more than 200 000 young people. From the point of view of education policy the article therefore pleads for alternative opportunities and in particular for massive expansion of in-school training in recognised training occupations with subsequent Chamber testing.
- How wide is the training position gap really?
Every year at about the same time, there is an intense discussion about how wide the apprenticeship gap will be this time. Studies indicate that the official statistics are contributing less and less to transparency on the training market and drawing further and further away from reality. The article explains a new calculation method developed in the BIBB that usefully supplements the supply and demand relations (SDR) that are usually taken as a basis and hence better reflects the actual problems in the training position market.
- Are non-German youth being ousted from the dual system of vocational education and training?
The participation of young people with migration backgrounds has been dropping steadily in the past ten years. The lack of company-based training positions is having an especially negative effect on these young people. The article describes the development of the participation of non-German youth in education and training and discusses the reasons for their displacement from the dual system of vocational education and training. Conclusion: Better use must be made of the potential and resources of these young people so as to increase their opportunities of access to the training position market.
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JOBSTARTER - the new education and training structure programme
In order to strengthen company-based vocational education and training, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has initiated the new JOBSTARTER programme, with a sponsorship volume of 100 million euros for the period up to 2010. The purpose of the programme, which is being implemented by the BIBB, is to improve regional training structures and the supply of company-based training positions. JOBSTARTER is a further development of the previous individual programmes STARegio, Regional Skills Training (Regio-Kompetenz-Ausbildung), Patenschaftsprogramm (exchange programme), Ausbildungsplatzentwickler (training position developer) and the Coordinating Office for Training in Non-German Enterprises (Koordinierungsstelle Ausbildung in ausländischen Unternehmen - KAUSA).
- BERUFSSTART - new avenues of vocational guidance in Thuringia
Thuringia is making the transition to working life easier for its young people by means of the pilot project "BERUFSSTART - deepened business-related vocational preparation during school hours". The purpose is to give all school students who are able and willing to take training an opportunity at the end of their schooling to make the transition to company-based education and training, to prevent bad career choices and to provide individual support before the end of schooling to deal with any lack of readiness for training.
The current volume 3/2006 of "Vocational Training in Research and Practice - BWP" entitled "Youth in Training!" (together with the BWPplus supplement) can be obtained for 7.90 euros from:
W. Bertelsmann Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Postfach 10 06 33 Phone: 0521 / 9 11 01 11
D-33506 Bielefeld Fax: 0521 / 9 11 01 19 E-mail: service@wbv.de
Your questions about the content of BWP will be answered by
Dr. Ursula Werner, Phone: 0228 / 107-1722, Fax: 0228 / 107-2967; werneru@bibb.de
