Traineeship bonus demanded along the lines of Saxony-Anhalt
According to the chambers, a state bonus for student internships should inspire more young people to take up the skilled trades. A similar scheme, which has been in place in Saxony-Anhalt since 2020, should be introduced in all northern German states, demanded Eckhard Stein, Chairman of the Northern Conference of Chambers of Crafts and Trades, in Hanover on Monday.
In view of the shortage of young talent, the bonus is an important instrument to get young people interested in training in the skilled trades, he said.
There is currently a considerable imbalance in the education system in favour of academic education paths, criticized Stein. At the same time, 2.6 million young people in Germany do not have a vocational qualification. A key problem is that many young people do not really get to know their opportunities and do not explore their skills and interests.
"If I don't get to know something, I can't miss it or I can't decide on it in the end," said Stein according to a press release. A bonus for internships as a taster week could help here.
Saxony-Anhalt introduced such an internship bonus in 2020. Pupils who are at least 15 years old can receive 120 euros for a taster week in the skilled trades. The internships may only be completed during the vacations and up to four weeks per year can be funded. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Magdeburg, almost 800 young people took advantage of the funding last year. Almost one in five then began training in the skilled trades.
The Northern Conference of Chambers of Skilled Crafts is made up of 17 chambers from Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.
The bonus for student internships in the skilled trades, as implemented in Saxony-Anhalt, could serve as a model for other northern German states to encourage more youth interest in craft education. This is according to Eckhard Stein, the Chairman of the Northern Conference of Chambers of Crafts and Trades, who advocates for a craft education focus in the face of a talent shortage.
To increase awareness of career prospects in vocational fields, Stein suggests introducing a bonus for internship tasters, giving young people the chance to explore their interests and skills without commitment.
Source: www.dpa.com
