| The dual system of vocational training in the Federal Republic of Germany is often presented as one of the most successful methods of providing a skilled workforce. However, recent changes in economy, organisation of workplaces and educational patterns are putting the system under stress and its ability to adapt to these changes is questioned. The purpose of this document is to provide information on the system's historical background, its relationship to the general education system, its complex organisational structure, as well as the characteristics of its different training places, its participants, its teachers and trainers and its financing. This information builds the basis for a review of current literature debating the dual system's future. This review identifies that the existence of attractive career possibilities for graduates of the dual system as well as the system's ability to flexibly adapt to new demands will be crucial for its future success. |
