1 VET Support Systems for Disadvantaged Young People in Germany – Best Practices, Deficiencies and Changes against the Background of the Education Policy of the European Union

An increasing proportion of the school leaving population in Germany has difficulties in the transition from school to vocational education and training due to the lack of training places in companies and the rising demands facing trainees in vocational education and training, such as, e.g. key competences or social skills. The Federal Government uses a number of different strategies to address these challenges. The different strategies are also influenced by the education policy of the European Union (EU). In 2007, a high-ranking committee, convoked by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), published concrete suggestions to modernize the vocational education and training (VET) system. One important result is the development of a new concept of training modules, which offers disadvantaged young people in the transition system more and reliable opportunities