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46/ 2003
Bonn, 17.12.2003
Steering Committee of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training opposes cuts in the funding of schemes for continuing vocational education and training abroad
- Appeal to the Federal Government -
At its meeting on 12 December 2003 the Steering Committee of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung - BIBB) 01 discussed the cutbacks in the funding of schemes for continuing education and training abroad that the Federal Ministry of Education and Research had implemented in the 2004 budget, and decided to submit the following appeal to the federal government:
"It was with great concern that the Steering Committee took note of the fact that for 2004 the Federal Ministry of Education and Research had cut back the funding for seven international continuing vocational training programmes from €5 million to €1 million. This cut affects programmes implemented by InWEnt for individual continuing vocational training and for promoting the transnational mobility of trainees and non-academic skilled workers as well as programmes for the international qualification of vocational education and training experts and for the promotion of world-wide vocational education and training networks. At the same time, funding for the exchange of scientists and university students was raised from €14.5 million to €75 million.
In view of the current budget situation cuts in public expenditure are inevitable. But in the process fundamental educational intentions must not be neglected. The envisaged cuts are one-sided and imbalanced. They will put vocational education and training (VET) at a distinct disadvantage for the benefit of general education. This is not acceptable as it is clearly at variance with the declared objective of the federal government and the two sides of industry to put VET and general education on an equal footing. It is also inconsistent with the general endeavour at both national and European level to strengthen the international dimension of vocational education and training.
Consequently, public funding of exchange programmes in the field of vocational education and training must be continued in future on an adequate basis. Only in this way can trainees and skilled workers in small and medium-sized enterprises be given the opportunity to acquire international skills, foreign language proficiency and vocational experience abroad. Especially the Stepping Stones to Training Abroad (Sprungbrett ins Ausland) programme for trainees must be continued.
Given the central importance of vocational education and training in the context of efforts to strengthen the international competitiveness of German companies, especially SMEs, at the European and global levels, it is more necessary than ever before that transnational vocational training exchange programmes for trainees, trainers, skilled workers and managers are adapted to the individual needs of companies and participants. As these programmes are increasingly individualised, publicly funded supportive measures also have to play an important role.
When budget funds are scarce, the efficient use of resources is particularly important for the success of the measures taken. This is why programmes should be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis with a view to making the cost-benefit ratio transparent and ensuring the efficient use of funds. Labour and management have agreed to help with evaluating the programmes and contribute to their further conceptual development. Accordingly, they will assist the implementation of the schemes and support the efficient use of the resources available.
In view of the key role that vocational education and training play also in the context of efforts to strengthen Germany's position in international economic competition and with regard to the parity of esteem of general and vocational education, the Steering Committee calls on the federal government to take back these one-sided cuts and rectify the unequal treatment of the two sectors of education and to make sure that also in 2004 and in subsequent years adequate funding will be allocated to programmes for international initial and continuing vocational education and training."
