Englisch


		Chemistry (Produktionsfachkraft Chemie),
		Body Care (Körperpflegeberufe),
		Wood-related Technology (Schreiner) ,
		Electronic Engineering (Elektroberufe),
		Nutrition and Home Economics (Nahrung und Hauswirtschaft),
		Mechanical Engineering (Metall-/Kfz-Berufe),
		Constructional Engineering (Bauberufe)
		Banking, Commerce and Administration (kaufmännische Berufe).

Attendance at the college is compulsory for the duration of the training course unless the trainee exceeds the age requirement. The sponsoring company is legally obliged to release the trainee for college attendance carried out on day-release courses (Einzeltagesunterricht) or block-release courses (Blockunterricht).
For many traineeships, a course of basic training (Grundbildung) related to the appropriate occupational field takes place for one year. This is followed by a specialisation phase (Fachstufe) lasting 2 years up to 2 and ½ years, depending on the occupation concerned.
This phase takes place in specialist classes (Fachklassen) for one or a number of traineeships.
A Final Certificate is issued by the Berufsschule on successful completion.
The Vocational Certificate is gained by passing an examination set by the appropriate Chamber of Commerce, Trade or Industry or other authority responsible.
Trainees with the requisite good marks are also entitled to receive the Intermediate School Certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) that is equivalent to the Realschule- or Wirtschaftsschule-leaving Certificate and offers improved opportunities in commerce, industry and the public sector. It is also an entrance qualification for the Fachakademie and the vocational schools leading to Higher Education (Fachoberschule, Berufsoberschule).

General information
Basic knowledge and life skills aimed at pre-career job orientation are taught while pupils are still at general education schools, particulary in Work Studies, Job Experience Programmes etc. The State´s responsibility (Verantwortung des Staates) for providing young people with a comprehensive range of educational opportunities up to age 18 means that the general and vocational education (allgemeine und berufliche Bildung) are considered equally important. The participation of industry and commerce in vocational education ensures that the current needs of the world of works are continually taken into consideration.
Vocational education not only fulfils the very varied needs of industry and commerce for qualified staff, but always aims to develop the trainee´s personality as well. With this in mind, the Vocational College in Lauf teaches a number of general-education subjects (allgemeinbildende Unterrichtsfächer) such as German, Politics, Religion in addition to the vocational ones. The proportion of the curriculum devoted to general-education subjects rather than vocational ones is particularly high at voactional schools leading to a Higher Education Entrance Certificate (i.e. Fachoberschule, Berufsoberschule).
The vocational sector provides a first stage of job-oriented education, facilitates job promotion through further training, and finally enables suitable pupils to acquire further school qualifications (up to and including Higher Education Entrance Certificates).

* The “Dual System”
The majority of all young people entering the job market are trained in the “Dual System”, in which the sponsoring company and Berufsschule work closely together.

			The company provides, above all, the practical side of vocational training as well as the necessary job experience.
			The Berufsschule provides the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for the occupation concerned, but at the same time it aims to further the trainee´s general education and personal development.

	The trainee and the sponsoring company sign a Job-training Contract (Ausbildungsvertrag), which contains information on the structure and length of the traineeship in accordance with the Federal Training Regulations (Ausbildungsordnung) as well as the hours of work, holiday entitlement and pay. The contract is registered at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce, Trade or Industry (Industrie-und Handelskammer/Handwerkskammer).
	Compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) lasts for twelve years and comprises nine years of full-time general education followed by three years of part-time vocational schooling. On the basis of job-training regulations agreed at Federal level, the Vocational Certificate is recognised by all German employers. Skilled workers are therefore no longer bound to the company that trained them, but having completed their training can work for a company of their choice.

THE „BFS“ (BERUFSFACHSCHULE) OF THE HOTEL AND CATERING TRADE (Gastronomy, 1-year)

	There are many kinds of BFS, of which 46.6 % are run privately. They differ considerably with regard to their entry requirements, duration and leaving certificate. The BFS of the Hotel and Catering Trade (Gastronomy) in Lauf, which is also situated at the Vocational College provides a basic qualification but not a Vocational Certificate. Courses last 1 year, attendance is fully accredited towards an appropriate “Dual System” training course.
	Students are offered a wide range of theoretical and practical subjects, from general subjects (Politics, English, French) to very special ones, such as Restaurant Service, Housekeeping, Office Organization and Nutrition. After having completed this well-accepted 1-year-course most of the school-leavers find a place with hotels and restaurants to start a traineeship in the hotel and catering trade.