Inspiring the Next Generation of American Career Tech Education

In May 2022, a delegation of AFT leaders, staff and guests traveled to Berlin and Hamburg to study the German vocational education and training (VET) system, analogous to career and technical education (CTE) in the United States. One of the most well-regarded systems in the world, Germany’s VET is defined by what is known as the “dual system,” whereby vocational students receive both workplace and classroom instruction in parallel, allowing them to earn a generous stipend, get hands-on experience, and learn the theory behind their trade all at the same time. Because Germany’s VET system has long-standing historical and cultural roots and is now enshrined in federal German law, a key challenge of the AFT mission was to determine how Germany’s most successful vocational education practices can be replicated in the U.S. context. During their visit, AFT leaders and staff identified the following key actions that can help bolster U.S. career and technical education: 

• Improve educational and career orientation to interest more students in vocational programs, including by creating pre-apprenticeship programs that allow students to experience a career path before entering a vocational program; 
• Advocate for the development of an incentive structure at the national and local levels to encourage private sector participation in vocational training and increase apprenticeship availability;
• Fund externships for CTE teachers to maintain their knowledge of new technologies and processes in industries so they are able to keep curricula up to date and teach students the latest skills that companies are looking for; and
• Create VET coordinator positions in schools to manage local partnerships to develop relevant career advising, internships, and apprenticeships for students and externships for teachers.