Reform proposals

Career orientation
Career and academic orientation from the 7th grade onward should help young adults in all secondary schools prepare for the transition to work or further training. Career orientation should include practical internships in companies. Diagnostics should be implemented to ensure that at-risk youth are identified in good time and tailored support offers are introduced during secondary school.

Young adults who make realistic and feasible career choices that match their interests and abilities are much less likely to enter the school-to-work system. Effective career orientation helps reduce drop-out rates in vocational training programs and fills places in programs for less-popular careers that nonetheless have a promising future.

Additional training programs
Young adults who are ready for a vocational training position but have not yet found one should have access to publicly funded traineeships in recognized trades. Training centers targeting youth should include, therefore, vocational schools and educational institutions. Practical training should include prolonged internships in companies.

Practical training is not intended to reduce the number of training positions available in the dual system, which should always take priority. The aim, rather, is to facilitate as soon as possible a switch from the single track of practical training to the dual education and training system, and to make this an attractive option for young people. The period of practical training already completed can then be transferred as a credit when the switch is made.

Preparing for vocational training
Preparatory courses for a vocational training program should be restricted to youth with severe cognitive and/or social difficulties who cannot currently be accepted in a program aimed at a vocational certification. Individual support programs, which include internships in companies, should prepare the young adults in question for vocational training as soon as possible. If successful, participants are then guaranteed a traineeship in a recognized career. Participants can switch to regular on-the-job training at any time on their route to vocational training. The option of entering the dual system through a position in line with the young person’s specific skills should always have priority over any type of preparatory activity.