Suddenly the German system is regarded as ideal

For years the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has ignored vocational education and training and demanded more students. As a consequence there are more students today than trainees. The organisation is now changing its opinion.

There was a time when almost nobody knew what was meant by the "dual System". And, if they did, they mostly thought about the Green Dot recycling symbol. There was obviously no need to spend time talking about something which people were not concerned about. The German system of vocational education training, the vocational school and the apprenticeship in the company - in other words the dual system—was so well established that there was not really much debate to be had.

Companies had virtually only ever known a situation in which they had had to select one applicant from every ten which best suited them. However today, such a luxury is only enjoyed by very few companies. The application process has literally reversed. Today one applicant has a choice of ten companies. It is often the case that companies are even promoting themselves to young people, tempting them with guarantees of employment, with payment of their driving licence, a company mobile phone, and so on.

A new high point was reached in the 2016 training year with 43,500 vacant trainee positions. This is equivalent to an increase of 4.5 per cent compared to the previous year. 520,300 training contracts were concluded which is 0.4 per cent less than the previous year, which is also a trend. Smaller companies in particular are offering training less and less frequently, not for example because they do not want to but because they are unable to find any applicants.

However in the same year 580,000 people began a degree. This is almost exactly the same number as began vocational education and training. The total number of students is already above that of trainees. Earlier generations would not have been able to imagine the work force divided up in this way. For a long time the ratio of two thirds apprentices to one third students was normal, and certainly healthy for the economy. Vocational education and training is in crisis, despite that it continues to guarantee its graduates a good income and often more job security than an academic job.

The latest report from the OECD "Education at a Glance 2017" recognises this. The report covers employment rights and state spending on pupils, students and trainees in 35 OECD states and some partner countries. Even in the sober language of the OECD, the report is full of praise for the vocational education and training system in Germany. It might also be contrition, but just a little too late.

The reason is that for a long time the organisation criticised the dual system - a name now mentioned frequently - out of ignorance. For many years the OECD did not want to recognise that in Germany, besides a degree leading to an occupation, vocational education and training also existed. It was almost stubborn in its demands that Germany had to increase its number of upper secondary school leavers and its student numbers if it wanted to remain competitive. It noted that the country was too far below the OECD average, regarded as the measure of all things.

Now, of all times, with vocational training in the dual system proving to be problematic, the OECD is starting to praise it. According to the study, "Germany's vocational education and training system ensures high employability for those not continuing to education in the tertiary sector". Tertiary sector refers to both a university degree but also to a master craftsman certificate. The employment rates are "as high as for individuals with a tertiary qualification (86 per cent and 87 per cent respectively)".

The praise continues: "The good outcomes of Germany's vocational education and training system are also reflected in the low share of young people who are neither employed nor in education and training." 10.8 per cent of 20 to 24 year-olds are in this group in Germany. This is one of the smallest proportions among OECD countries. Only Iceland (6 per cent) the Netherlands (8.5 per cent) and Denmark (9.5 per cent) are better. Germany is a leader in scientific subjects and engineering disciplines and 40 per cent here begin in a so-called MINT subject. This is only 27 per cent across the OECD. "The employment opportunities are outstanding," said Heino von Meyer, Head of OECD's Berlin Centre.

Even the long-lamented connection between a parent's education and that of their children is suddenly being glossed over by the OECD. "This is partly due to the successful German vocational education system which offers a solid alternative to tertiary education." The share of university-educated adults who did not have university-educated parents is similar among 45 to 59 and 30 to 44 year-olds. "It is no downturn when a child from an academic household trains for an occupation and does not study," says Minister for Education, Johanna Wanka (CDU).

This year's judgement by the OECD is remarkable because it respects the equivalence of both pathways and does not place university-level education and training above vocational education and training. It is no accident that the dual system is being copied around the world. Many countries have understood that you cannot study or should study for every occupation. Although it has taken some time to arrive at this point, the Federal Government is now pleased to refer to its export hit.

The OECD's reprimands year after year had some part to play in this. For example, at the training summit in 2008 in Dresden, the minister presidents of the federal states together with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) declared that they wanted to raise the proportion of students by 2015 to 40 per cent. More students - that was the political goal 10 years ago.

The 40 per cent mark was then reached as early as 2009. According to the OECD report, the number of first year students increased by around 20 percentage points to 63 per cent between 2005 and 2015 - "which was equivalent to the highest increase in the OECD and partner countries for which data is available". If first year students from abroad are not included in the calculation, Germany then arrives at the international average (OECD: 57 per cent, Germany: 56 per cent).

This trend is at the expense of the dual education and training system. Many people today, who take it for granted that they will study, would have started vocational education and training in previous decades. Policy makers now regret their focus on increasing the proportion of academics—a policy which the OECD swore by. Today election manifestos campaign strongly in favour of vocational education and training.

Advancement grants are intended to make it affordable, occupational training graduates are guaranteed the chance to study without the higher education entrance qualification, and master craftsperson grants are available for the very best.

However, the report notes that vocational education and training at the moment just seems to lack appeal. Despite crowded seminars and poor supervision, studying continues to be on trend. In contrast to before, those completing vocational education and training are under pressure to justify themselves. At least that is how they see it. The OECD plays a large part in this.