Trade as new elective course at upper secondary vocational schools

Baden-Württemberg's upper secondary vocational schools of economics can offer trade as new elective course, starting from the beginning of the next school year in September.

Like economics, sports or religion, trade will be taught in two lessons per week and can be offered in all branches of secondary vocational schools of economics. Topics of the course can range from business management, design expertise and marketing to qualification and technology.

Graduates of upper secondary vocational schools are an attractive target group for the trade topic because for them work experience already plays a significant role. According to the Chamber of Crafts, the objective is to raise the attractiveness of small and medium-sized businesses for job applicants and to highlight career opportunities in the trades.

Heads of schools are now asked to offer the elective course and to actively inform students and parents about this new opportunity. At the same time, the Chamber of Crafts is calling on companies to get involved and to initiate the introduction of the optional subject in schools.

Furthermore, it was underlined that the equality of vocational and academic education needs to be strengthened in order to attract school graduates to a dual education. Together with the state government, the Handwerkstag has recently launched the project "Bridge to trade". The aim is to provide young people, who are not fit for an apprenticeship yet, with the skills necessary to pursue a dual training and complete it successfully.