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41/ 2011
Bonn, 19.09.2011
Education Minister Schavan and BIBB's President Esser see positive trend on the training place market
6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress "Developing competences - Opening up opportunities" in Berlin:
Despite the fact that two age cohorts left school this year due to a change in Germany's secondary school system and that compulsory military service has been suspended, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) expect the situation on the training place market to continue to noticeably improve for youths. This was reported by Federal Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan and Despite the fact that two age cohorts left school this year due to a change in Germany's secondary school system and that compulsory military service has been suspended, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) expect the situation on the training place market to continue to noticeably improve for youths. This was reported by Federal Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan and BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser Monday at a joint press conference at the opening of the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress in Berlin.
President Esser noted, "The number of available in-company training places reported to the guidance and placement services up through the end of August was some 50,000 greater than at the same time last year. These positive signals lead us to hope that the number of new training contracts will increase noticeably." Schavan and Esser both assume that the number of youths who are unable to find a training place will fall significantly this year. The only bad news in the anticipated 'good report card' is the growing difficulties enterprises are having recruiting trainees. These difficulties will be reflected in a marked increase in the number of training places which enterprises are not able to fill, they said.
"For young people, the situation on the training place market is more favourable than it has been in a long time," said Schavan. At 9.5 per cent, youth unemployment in Germany is far lower than the EU average. "The German dual vocational training system is increasingly serving as a model in Europe," Minister Schavan stressed. "Our job now is to tap every possibility and win over new target groups for vocational education and training." This is being done firstly through a proactive 'education chain' campaign which provides pupils flanking support and guidance on an individual basis starting in the 7th form right up into vocational training, she added. "Secondly, we will boost the dual system's attractiveness in comparison with other education sectors," said Schavan, adding that this will also happen in the future as a result of the European Qualifications Framework which specifies the level of the respective qualification. "The certificates confirming the holders' vocational qualification will then clearly state that a demanding three-year vocational training programme is ranked equally with upper secondary schooling. And it will be laid down in writing that qualification as a mechatronics fitter is worth just as much as an Abitur " (qualification that is earned in upper secondary school and permits the holder to study any subject at a university in Germany), stated Schavan.
For BIBB's President Esser, one of the most important tasks in addition to this for the coming years will be to ensure that Germany's initial and continuing vocational training system is "fit for the future". "The vocational education and training system must continue to develop and focus on its manifold strengths. One of the uppermost objectives will be to help vocational training acquire greater equivalence, recognition and permeability," stressed Esser. "Ultimately, we must smooth the path for all youths to the highest possible level of qualification for each individual." In this connection Esser noted the increasing 'depillarisation' in the German education system 0 relaxing the long-standing and strict division between separate 'pillars' 0 which will lead to greater mobility between secondary schooling, vocational education and training, and university education.
Some 1,200 vocational training experts are meeting in Berlin on 19 and 20 September for the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress where they will discuss topical issues and prospects in the vocational education and training field from a national and international perspective under the motto "Developing competences 0 Opening up opportunities".
The results of the congress will be documented soon on the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/berufsbildungskongress.
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