Vocational guidance at inter-company vocational training centres and similar training facilities
Early, practice-oriented, systematic vocational guidance is being provided at inter-company vocational training centres and similar vocational training facilities to make the transition from school to 'dual' vocational training (that combines part-time vocational schooling with practical work experience) easier for youths at regular schools that provide a general education, and particularly schools that offer lower secondary school leaving certificates, and thus make an effective contribution toward reducing the number of young people who have no school-leaving qualification and/or no prospects for a training place.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is flanking this process by supporting the training facilities in the performance their new task of supplying occupation-specific vocational guidance within the context of their publicly-mandated mission to provide education. This funding is being provided to enable the exemplary development of suitable measures and the building of lasting structures that will be independent of federal funds on a long-term basis and will ensure a sustained improvement in the management of young people's transition from school to vocational training. This pilot project will run for three years. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training will evaluate the programme and examine its impact on the motivation of young people and on their transition from school to vocational training.
These vocational guidance measures will give young people an opportunity to spend two weeks at a vocational training facility gathering practical experience in three occupation-specific workshops. Under a trainer's supervision, they will test their aptitude and disposition for three occupations of their choice in a practical work setting. These vocational guidance activities will end with certification that is intended to provide pupils and potential training companies a decision-making aid when choosing an occupation / determining whether to offer them a training place.
Applications for financial assistance are to be submitted to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
