Public education system
Within the federal organization of the German government, education is the responsibility
of the individual states. Agricultural education and training is split between a multitude of
organisations.
The dual vocational training system in Germany combines farm-based
training with regular attendance of vocational schools (Berufsschulen). Fourteen different
agriculture-related training courses are offered in Germany with 34,764 attendants (11%
female) in 2012. Within the last 15 years the number of agricultural trainees (only) has
been fluctuating between around 7,800 (in 2001) and 9,700 (in 2007). In the following 5
years numbers have been decreasing again to 8,500 agriculture trainees in 2012. Advanced
(continued) training is offered in form of 1 or 2-year courses by technical colleges
(Fachschulen) leading either to a certificate as Meister (translates ‘master’ but not in the
sense of scientific qualification) or as technician (Techniker).
The number of students at
agricultural technical colleges is more or less stagnant with 7,783 attendants in 2012
(agricultural training in particular 4,709).
EU Forecast
euf:ba18h:15/nws-01