Practical learning days in Ludwigslust: Schools and companies at the limit!

Practical learning days in Ludwigslust: Schools and companies at the limit!

Preparations for the new school year are in full swing in northern Germany. A central topic that concerns more and more schools and companies is the planned “practical learning day”, which is to be implemented compulsorily for all secondary schools in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the coming school year. There are still reports, conferences and critical planning to do before the summer holidays. It is already clear that many schools and companies are overwhelmed by the new regulations. This is reported by Nordkurier, which deals with the challenges arising from the new project.

The aim of the practical learning day is to enable pupils in the 8th and 9th grades to have regular contact with the professional world. Once a week, students spend four to six hours in a company. This approach is intended not only to offer young people insights into various career sectors, but also to actively support them in their career choice. To bildung-mv.de It is further explained that the practical learning day represents an integrative form of learning that is intended to link theory and practice.

Challenges for schools and companies

Organizing the new format is a headache for many schools. Jörg Ehbrecht, managing director of the Society for Innovative Education and Employment, expresses concerns that the project could potentially fail. What is particularly worth emphasizing is that the students themselves have to actively search for companies, which brings with it additional uncertainty. It is estimated that between 350 and 450 students in the Ludwigsluster region will be affected by the new practical days.

Schools like the Karl Scharfenberg School in Neustadt-Glewe have shown that things can work better: 60 students were successfully placed with companies there. But at a meeting of the regional School Economy Working Group, school participation was rather poor, which reinforces concerns about the overall implementation of the project.

There are also concerns in the economy. Sabine Brumm, human resources manager at Caravan-Wendet, expresses her understanding of the schools' difficulties, but also expresses her concerns. Detlef Thoms, regional manager of the business association, emphasizes that the requirements are extremely high, especially for small companies.

The general conditions of the practical learning day

The practical learning day is part of a new concept for career orientation and is held at regional schools and cooperative comprehensive schools. Students and companies find a common denominator, which is rooted in the “Everyone is needed” concept of the MV Ministry of Education and Child Care. This new requirement could be loud boje-mv.de offer a solution to strengthen the connection between school education and professional practice.

The concept stipulates that the internships go beyond the regular 25-day student internship during school and take place in companies, authorities and social institutions. The large number of possible placements should make it easier for young people to gain valuable insights into different professional fields and thus be better prepared for their future.

The first phase of the project is considered a test phase and the practical implementation will be visible in the new school year. It remains to be seen how schools and companies will respond to the challenges. One thing is clear, however: the practical learning day offers the opportunity to bridge the gap between school education and the world of work - whether this will lead to a good result is anyone's guess.