ProBe presentation day: Pupils show talents

The vocational orientation measure "Profile Development and Vocational Orientation", or ProBe for short, enables secondary school students to receive individual vocational orientation with many practical components as well as concrete support in their search for a training place from socio-pedagogical specialists while they are still at school. From the seventh school year onwards, the young people try out their skills and talents and get to know different occupational fields in grade 8.

Now, at the annual presentation days, the eighth graders showed the next year's class, their parents, teachers, companies and other interested parties at the vocational schools in Korbach and the Hans-Viessmann-Schule in Frankenberg what they had worked on during ProBe. A presentation day is still to come: On 10 July, the Ense School in Bad Wildungen will open its doors to interested parties from 4 pm.

This is how it works in the second phase of vocational orientation: In the first half of grade 8, the young people can get a taste of three different occupational fields and then deepen their knowledge and skills in the second half of the year in their chosen occupational field. They can choose from electrical engineering, wood technology, social work, home economics and nutrition as well as business and administration. The teachers at the vocational schools in Korbach, the Hans Viessmann School in Frankenberg, the district craftsmen's association and experts from the field (from companies) provide instruction in the various trades.

"ProBe is intended to support the pupils in gaining an insight into the various occupational fields and training opportunities. In the best case, this gives them an idea of what they enjoy and makes it easier for them to decide on a profession," says Dirk Schmid, head of department at the vocational schools in Korbach, where he is responsible for implementing ProBe. It is equally important that the young people can rule out the professions that they do not enjoy.

The vocational orientation measure has already shown relevant successes: there was a 50 percent placement rate in vocational training per round. Furthermore, it has been proven that ProBe promotes the completion of successful vocational training and also reduces the dropout rate. "We are always on the lookout for experts to teach practical skills," says Svenja Lotze from the Schools and Education Department, who coordinates the programme on the part of the district. At the moment, the planning for the new school year is underway, and supporters from the corporate world - from companies that are interested in participating in the programme and taking over the teaching in a vocational field for a fee - are very welcome. Contact can be made by e-mail to svenja.lotze@lkwafkb.de.

The Waldeck-Frankenberg district runs the programme together with the Waldeck-Frankenberg district craftsmen's association, the Korbach and Bad Arolsen vocational schools, the Hans-Viessmann-Schule Frankenberg and the state education authority. The following general education schools are also involved: Kaulbachschule Bad Arolsen, Kugelsburgschule Volkmarsen, Schulzentrum an der Warte Sachsenhausen, Cornelia-Funke-Schule Gemünden, Gesamtschule Battenberg, Ortenbergschule and Burgwaldschule Frankenberg, Mathias-Bauer-Schule and Ense-Schule Bad Wildungen and Integrierte Gesamtschule Edertal.

Keywords:

Pro Berufsorientierung Specialist Service Schools and Education