Hans Heinrich Driftmann, President of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), and Kristina Schröder, German Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, specially awarded the best apprenticeship graduates in chamber of industry and commerce occupations last December.
Driftmann congratulated the awardees in his opening speech: "You have achieved an amazing accomplishment. I sincerely wish that you will be a model for many other young people currently thinking about plans for their future. Make your friends and acquaintances aware of the fact that an apprenticeship is well worth its while and rewarding."
The DIHK president thanked the businesses providing vocational education and training, the parents and the vocational school teaching staff for their share in the graduates' successful achievement.
In his address, Driftmann vehemently campaigned for in-company vocational training: "Our dual vocational education and training system is internationally held in high esteem. Yet we must also be aware that the full potential of our country is not yet fully used and that too many young people remain without an apprenticeship placement. We must not passively accept this. The innovation power and competitiveness of our country is highly dependent on the quality of our vocational training system for skilled labour."
During her commemorative speech, Federal Minister for Family Affairs Schröder emphasised: "Being one of the approximately 200 top graduates amongst more than 350,000 examination candidates is an excellent achievement! I am glad to be able to personally congratulate you today, the best of your year! You have worked hard to be at the top: you have demonstrated diligence, discipline, talent and, most of all, outstanding commitment. You can be very proud of your achievement! Your parents and the businesses providing your vocational training have accompanied you on this way and have a significant share in your coming all this way. I cordially extend my congratulations to them, too!"
Last year, a nation-wide total number of 228 best graduates in 218 different occupations was determined. The federal state featuring the highest number of best graduates was North Rhine-Westphalia (55), followed by Bavaria with 34 and Baden-Württemberg with 24 best graduates.
Ten times, two best graduates in the same profession with exactly the same number of points achieved walked onto the stage. Five graduates even achieved the stunning result of 100 points in their final examination. In total, more than 1,000 guests attended the award ceremony for the best graduates – alongside the graduates' parents also representatives from the businesses providing vocational training, vocational school teaching staff, members of the German Bundestag as well as presidents and managing directors of the chambers of industry and commerce.