IHK calls for more flexibility when assigning vocational schools in border regions
For many trainees in southern Hesse, the way to vocational school is a daily challenge: Despite the closer schools in the neighboring state, they have to take long distances - because according to the regulation, the vocational school must be attended in the state of the training company. So far, the Hessian Ministry of Culture has only given exceptions restrictively The IHK Darmstadt is now calling for a fundamental reform.
"Gestalt practice has to change," demands Dr. Marcel Walter, head of the training and further education of the IHK Darmstadt. "The rigid regulations are a real problem, especially for training companies in border regions. It threatens that companies no longer train - or that young people cancel their training."
Two examples from the region
- A trainee from Lampertheim , who is trained Bensheim Friedberg . The simple travel time: almost two hours. The closer school in Mannheim would only be half as far away. However, the application for a change of school was rejected by the ministry.
- A prospective industrial clerk from Mörlenbach , who works Wald-Michelbach Lampertheim -also around 90 minutes per route. The school in Weinheim would only be 15 minutes away. Here too: rejection by the Ministry of Culture.
Training often fails due to bureaucracy
In addition, applications can only be made after signing the contract This means that applicants do not receive a binding information about the school in the interview. According to the IHK, this is a frequent reason for training abortions before the start.
"80 percent of the applications will be approved later, but too late. The chance of training is often wasted," said Walter. He particularly criticizes the bureaucratic effort : each application is checked individually, often only applies to one year - and must be re -placed in the following year.
IHK warns of the extinction of entire job profiles
"If the school location is too far away, many companies give up or only offer certain professions," warns Walter. In this way, the “regional extinction” of urgently needed apprenticeships in the long term.
An example that cooperation can work: In 2024, the profession of physics laboratory technician could only be preserved through cross-border agreement between Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
IHK demands more flexible regulation
The IHK Darmstadt turned to a letter to the Hessian Ministry of Culture and demands:
- Easier approval practice in border regions
- Permanent burials for certain companies
- Free choice of school for trainees - regardless of the federal state
"It is not about whether trainees go to school A or B - but whether they do an apprenticeship at all," said Walter. "If we are serious about securing skilled workers, we have to make our training conditions more flexible - practical, regionally adapted and future -oriented."
Further information on the topic of training and vocational school is available on the website of the IHK Darmstadt .
(Darmstadt - Red/IHK)
