The dual education system: Implementation possibilities, prerequisites and challenges

The dual education system as a model of secondary vocational education is regarded as an effective way of preparing young people for the world of work and employment. Many countries striving to improve the organization and functioning of secondary vocational education have drawn on the experience of countries with a well-developed dual system of vocational education and training. The German dual education system in particular has served as a model for secondary vocational education reform in a number of countries. Given that other countries' solutions cannot be copied, i.e. transferred directly into a different socio-economic and educational context, this paper considers the possibilities and prerequisites for the successful implementation of dual education in a different environment. It also highlights certain challenges to the implementation of the dual education system, which can also be seen as limiting circumstances to its introduction and implementation. In the discussion section it is pointed out that a program of reform of secondary vocational education first needs to assess the existing situation and the needs within a particular education system, and only then carefully consider which elements of the dual model can be useful for the given system, and how they can be adapted and integrated into the existing context.