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Germany’s ‘dual’ apprenticeship system is comprised of an education component and a practical or training component. The system is in place for nearly 350 recognized occupations and lasts anywhere from two to three-and-a-half years.
The practical training takes place in recognized learning companies on the basis of national training regulations and is supervised by a public agency. The theoretical training takes place in vocational schools and comprises about 20 percent of the total curricular time. A major strength of the system is the commitment on the part of employers and other social partners: VET as a whole is well-resourced, combining public and private funding. Germany has maintained strong financial support and maintained the apprenticeship offer for the VET system even during the crisis.
Check out: A description of the VET system in Germany by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
Check out: The OECD’s appraisal of the German apprenticeship system
Check out: Maclean’s, ‘How the German style of apprenticeships could be a model for Canada’
Check out: The European Union’s official apprenticeship site for Germany
