Training instead of school for young refugees

Young refugees with no or severely interrupted educational careers can do an apprenticeship instead of school in Saxony. The aim of the new educational program "Learning through Practice" is to provide young refugees aged 15 and over with language and technical skills combined with intensive practical learning within three years to prepare them for training or employment, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday. "Admittedly, this is a very ambitious undertaking. But if we don't make the effort, the problems will become much bigger later on," said Minister of Education Christian Piwarz (CDU).

According to the statement, refugees aged around 15 are constantly arriving in Saxony. The ministry currently estimates their number at 500, adding that many have been on the run for years and have rarely or never attended school. "These young people have hardly any prospects of continuing their education due to a lack of language skills and basic school knowledge," said Piwarz. In order to give these refugees a future, creative approaches are needed.

According to the press release, the first refugees started the program at the vocational school centers in Hoyerswerda, Leipzig and Pirna at the beginning of the second half of the school year after the winter vacations. In the coming school year, the program will also be available in Chemnitz and Zwickau.