Training dropouts and contract dissolutions
Not every contract dissolution is a training dropout!Contract dissolutions are training contracts which are terminated before expiry of the period of training stated in the VET contract. It is important to remember that a contract dissolution does not necessarily mean a final dropout from vocational education and training. A change of company or occupation within the dual system may also involve contract dissolutions.
Training dropout
In the autumn of 2002, the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) conducted a survey of around 2,300 young people whose training contract had been dissolved during the course of the training year 2001/2002. As well as asking about the reasons for the contract dissolution, the survey also enquired into the further destination of the young people following termination. This enabled training dropouts to be investigated as a partial group of all dissolutions. For detailed (German language) information on this investigation, please visit Contract dissolutions: reasons and destination.
In 2009, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research published a (German language) report entitled Avoiding training dropouts - new approaches and solution strategies, prepared by Unique, a company specialising in employment structures and human resources and organisational development. This document illustrates ways in which a training dropout may be avoided.
Contract dissolution
A contract may be prematurely dissolved by the trainee, by the company providing training or by the mutual agreement of both parties. The reasons for contract dissolutions are multifarious and in some cases complex. Aspects involved may include company closures, health matters, revised career choice decisions and even extend to encompass issues such as conflict between trainers and trainees.
BIBB uses the data provided by the Vocational Education and Training Statistics of the Federal Statistical Office and the Statistical Offices of the federal states (survey as of 31 December) to calculate the rate of dissolved contracts (not the dropout rate!) on an annual basis. For a detailed presentation of the quantitative development of dissolved contracts, please refer to Contract dissolutions: quantitative development (German language resource).
Information last updated: September 2011
