Vocational Training
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Seventy per cent of the students who finish post-primary school then go on to work in a company, a workshop, private business or industry. Unlike in other countries, however, the vocational training is not solely left to the employer. Apart from the training and the experience that the trainees gain at the workplace they also attend a vocational school (Berufsschule) where they are taught various subjects relating to their work. The so called dual system (work experience plus specialised theoretical knowledge) has the advantage of giving young people a broad base in their vocational training and providing them with specialised knowledge for skilled work.
The dual system has its roots in the system which the guilds founded to train their craftsmen and thus dates back to the Middle Ages. The guilds were craftsmen associations, set up to protect their members' rights and defend their interests. Since almost all jobs now require a relatively high degree of technical skill as well as specialised knowledge the dual system of vocational training has proved to be very effective.
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