Types of Vocational Education in Germany
Full-time Vocational Education-
Full time Vocational Education is broken into three parts: “vocational schools; Fachoberschulen and Berufsoberschulen; Vocational grammar schools/specialized grammar schools.”[1] Full-time VET students attend school from grades eleven to thirteen. Sometimes their schooling may include an internship and their courses are directed towards a vocational job. The full-time vocational training is geared towards more service, commercial and artistic professions.
Fachoberschulen and Berufsoberschulen schooling is directed towards building upon the dual system knowledge. Students are usually in school for two years and will graduate with a certificate or if students have a second language they may be entitled to higher education qualifications. Lastly, the Vocational grammar schools/specialized grammar schools are structured to provide specialized knowledge in technology, agriculture economics and nutrition. Students can graduate with entrance qualifications to universities if they pass the final examination. This type of education allows students to achieve academic schooling and also vocational qualification.[2]
[1] EQAVET EQAVET European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training,. Germany- Description of the VET System in Germany. http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx (accessed April 17, 2013).
[2] EQAVET EQAVET European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training,. Germany- Description of the VET System in Germany. http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx (accessed April 17, 2013).
Dual VET Program-
The Dual VET Program allows students to attend school as well as be an apprentice in a workplace setting. This program is designed for students in grades eleven to thirteen allowing them to choose from 349 different trades. Students typically spend three to four days at the apprenticeship, where they gain practical training that is structured in ordinances specific to their job. Apprenticeship students “earn a salary which increases every year and is on average one-third of the starting wage for a skilled worker.”[1] Students are required to attend school for about twelve hours per week. The schooling is two-thirds occupational specific curriculum and one-third general education.
There are two kinds of teachers in the German VET System. There are teachers for theoretical subjects that have a university degree and other teachers that teach the practical training who are qualified with backgrounds for specific occupations. They are journeyman or qualified workers. For them “in-service training is mandatory for teachers and takes place in seminar form in state-run training institutes.”[2]
The Dual VET system allows students to receive hands-on practical learning in a workplace while still getting support from the school system. At the end of the Dual system students need to pass an exam that is specific to a job. Therefore, students need to acquire knowledge and information for two or three and a half years, depending on the student’s ability or requirements for the occupation. Some students work for family owned businesses, while others are given apprenticeships that align with their skills and interests. The Dual VET system allows students to have interest in their schooling because it is directing them to their future career path. After completing the Dual VET program students usually are employed as skilled workers.
[1] Schwartz, Robert and Kathrin Hoeckel. Learning for Jobs OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training Germany. September 2010. http://www.deqavet.de/_media/PDF_allgemein/OECD_Learning_for_Jobs_2010_EN.pdf (accessed April 15, 2013). pg 10
[2] DEQA-VET. Dual VET System. 2010. http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2384.php (accessed April 15, 2013).
Full time Vocational Education is broken into three parts: “vocational schools; Fachoberschulen and Berufsoberschulen; Vocational grammar schools/specialized grammar schools.”[1] Full-time VET students attend school from grades eleven to thirteen. Sometimes their schooling may include an internship and their courses are directed towards a vocational job. The full-time vocational training is geared towards more service, commercial and artistic professions.
Fachoberschulen and Berufsoberschulen schooling is directed towards building upon the dual system knowledge. Students are usually in school for two years and will graduate with a certificate or if students have a second language they may be entitled to higher education qualifications. Lastly, the Vocational grammar schools/specialized grammar schools are structured to provide specialized knowledge in technology, agriculture economics and nutrition. Students can graduate with entrance qualifications to universities if they pass the final examination. This type of education allows students to achieve academic schooling and also vocational qualification.[2]
[1] EQAVET EQAVET European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training,. Germany- Description of the VET System in Germany. http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx (accessed April 17, 2013).
[2] EQAVET EQAVET European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training,. Germany- Description of the VET System in Germany. http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx (accessed April 17, 2013).
Dual VET Program-
The Dual VET Program allows students to attend school as well as be an apprentice in a workplace setting. This program is designed for students in grades eleven to thirteen allowing them to choose from 349 different trades. Students typically spend three to four days at the apprenticeship, where they gain practical training that is structured in ordinances specific to their job. Apprenticeship students “earn a salary which increases every year and is on average one-third of the starting wage for a skilled worker.”[1] Students are required to attend school for about twelve hours per week. The schooling is two-thirds occupational specific curriculum and one-third general education.
There are two kinds of teachers in the German VET System. There are teachers for theoretical subjects that have a university degree and other teachers that teach the practical training who are qualified with backgrounds for specific occupations. They are journeyman or qualified workers. For them “in-service training is mandatory for teachers and takes place in seminar form in state-run training institutes.”[2]
The Dual VET system allows students to receive hands-on practical learning in a workplace while still getting support from the school system. At the end of the Dual system students need to pass an exam that is specific to a job. Therefore, students need to acquire knowledge and information for two or three and a half years, depending on the student’s ability or requirements for the occupation. Some students work for family owned businesses, while others are given apprenticeships that align with their skills and interests. The Dual VET system allows students to have interest in their schooling because it is directing them to their future career path. After completing the Dual VET program students usually are employed as skilled workers.
[1] Schwartz, Robert and Kathrin Hoeckel. Learning for Jobs OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training Germany. September 2010. http://www.deqavet.de/_media/PDF_allgemein/OECD_Learning_for_Jobs_2010_EN.pdf (accessed April 15, 2013). pg 10
[2] DEQA-VET. Dual VET System. 2010. http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2384.php (accessed April 15, 2013).
In this video teachers talk about Vocational Education in Germany
Link For Vocational Education
EQAVET- Vocational Education in Germany in regards to the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET).
http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx
DEQA-VET
http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2356.php
For information specifically on the Dual VET system in Germany, view these links:
http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2384.php
http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/06__Foreign__Policy__State/02__Foreign__Policy/05__KeyPoints/Vocational__Training.html
http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/what-we-do/implementing-the-framework/germany.aspx
DEQA-VET
http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2356.php
For information specifically on the Dual VET system in Germany, view these links:
http://www.deqa-vet.de/en/2384.php
http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/06__Foreign__Policy__State/02__Foreign__Policy/05__KeyPoints/Vocational__Training.html