The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is calling for more flexibility in the allocation of vocational schools in border regions
For many trainees in southern Hesse, the commute to vocational school is a daily challenge: despite schools being closer in the neighboring state, they have to travel long distances – because, according to regulations, vocational school must be attended in the state where the training company is located. The Hessian Ministry of Education currently grants exceptions, known as " permits ," only restrictively. The Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Darmstadt) is now calling for a fundamental reform.
“The permitting process absolutely must change,” demands Dr. Marcel Walter, Head of Vocational Training and Continuing Education at the Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce. “The rigid regulations are a real problem, especially for training companies in border regions. There is a risk that companies will no longer offer apprenticeships – or that young people will drop out of their training.”
Two examples from the region
- A trainee from Lampertheim is training to become a swimming pool attendant in Bensheim Friedberg . The one-way commute takes almost two hours. The closer school in Mannheim would be only half the distance. However, her application to change schools was rejected by the ministry.
- A trainee industrial clerk from Mörlenbach , who works in Wald-Michelbach , has to travel to vocational school in Lampertheim – also about 90 minutes each way. The school in Weinheim would only be 15 minutes away. Again, the Ministry of Education rejected this proposal.
Training often fails due to bureaucracy
Furthermore, applications for permission to attend school can only after the contract has been signed . This means that applicants do not receive binding information about the school's location during the interview. According to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), this is a frequent reason for apprenticeships being terminated before they even begin.
“Although 80 percent of applications are eventually approved, it’s too late. The chance for an apprenticeship is often already lost,” says Walter. He is particularly critical of the bureaucratic burden : Each application is reviewed individually, is often only valid for one year – and must be resubmitted the following year.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) warns of the extinction of entire professions
“If the school is too far away, many businesses close down or only offer certain apprenticeships,” warns Walter. This threatens the long-term “regional extinction” of urgently needed training professions.
An example of how cooperation can work: The profession of physics laboratory technician was only able to be preserved in 2024 through a cross-state agreement between Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is calling for more flexible regulations
The Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Darmstadt) has sent a letter to the Hessian Ministry of Education demanding:
- Simplified approval procedures in border regions
- Permanent permits for specific businesses
- Free choice of school for trainees – regardless of the federal state
“It’s not about whether trainees go to school A or B – but whether they do an apprenticeship at all,” said Walter. “If we’re serious about securing skilled workers, we need to make our training conditions more flexible – practical, regionally adapted, and future-oriented.”
Further information on the topic of training and vocational school can be found on the website of the Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Darmstadt ).
(DARMSTADT – RED/IHK)
