PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

Young people in Germany start school at the age of 6. They are in primary school until the age of 10 and then go on to a secondary school. The secondary schools in Ireland differ to the secondary schools in Germany. They have 4 different types of schools, Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium and Gesamtschule. The students attend the Hauptschule  until they are 16 or 17. They can then go on to do an apprenticeship (Ausbildung). The duration of this is 3 years. The students whom attend the Realschule have the option to do a Leaving  Certificate which takes a further 3 years. The Gymnasium is where the students do a Leaving Certificate (Abitur) and prepare themselves for 3^rd level education. The duration of this is 9 years. The Gesamtschule is a combination of the 3 schools. 

The students that leave school between the ages of 16 or 19 must start a trade, in the sevice sector or in industary for a period of 10 to 12 months. They then go on to do practice work in a company for 3 years. They will get experience there in variuos departments. This vocational traning is called the die Berufsausbildung or simply die Ausbildung. Die Auszubildenen (apprentices) attend a vocational school to learn the theoretical aspects of the work. At the end of the training the students will have practical, oral and written examinations. These examinations are standardized to ensure the same level of competence is achieved throughout Germany.

 Students with the Abitur ( Leaving Certificate)go on to 3^rd level education which consists of a University and a Technical College. University courses take a minimum of five or six years, even in arts subjects. Graduates who find jobs with companies are then  put on trainning schemes. The training can last anything from six months to two years.  

Adolph Kolping Berufskolleg is situated in the town of Brakel, which is located approx. 30 km from Paderborn. The school itself was founded in 1965 and is named after Adolf Kolpling  who was a famous German educator. The college serves up to 1800 students. The majority of these students live in the surrounding towns such as Höxter and Detmold.

Many of the students are engaged on apprentiships. There are a wide variety available including Electrical and Carpentry. The apprentiship students spend two days a week in the school itself and the other three days of the week are spent on the job putting the skills learned into action. The apprentiship last for three years and on the completion of the third year the students receive their qualifications which allows them to work full time in their chosen field.

Other schools in the surrounding area of Adolph Kolping Berufskolleg include a kindergarten, a Leaving cert school and a remedial school. The nearest University or third level education institute is located in Paderborn, the nearest big city

Adolph Kolping Berufskolleg is open from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon. Their holidays comprises two weeks at Easter, six weeks during the summer and two weeks at Christmas.  

Adolph Kolping Berufskolleg website can be accessed at: http://www.akb-brakel.de