Supporting disadvantaged young people at a prevocational training centre

The Bonn/Rhein-Sieg prevocational training centre (Haus der Berufsvorbereitung Bonn/Rhein-Sieg) offers disadvantaged school pupils from the region a one-year work-based course, giving them the opportunity to prepare for initial vocational training in the dual system while they are still at school. Its aim is to open the door to a training place, and hence long-term employment, for these young people. Furthermore, it enables training companies in the region to recruit young people with the requisite maturity for an apprenticeship, who will be available to them as committed skilled workers on completion of their training. The article reports on experience gained and the challenges of this vocational education work.