The Vocational Education System in East Germany - a Learning Opportunity in the Face of New Challenges?

The system of vocational training is approaching new challenges. Experiences from East Germany with the lack of apprenticeship positions and the surplus of junior staff during more than one decade as well as with drastically declining numbers of school leavers in recent times can make an important contribution to cope with these problems. An active role is played by educational institutions, many of whom have opened up an additional field of activity, supporting companies in recruiting the decreasing number of trainees.