EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Immigrants in vocational training

Immigrants in vocational training

Introduction

For the past few years, Regional Reporting and Coordination Centre in Eindhoven has been confronted with a group of immigrants who, after having completed secondary education, make no clear choice for subsequent training. Studies conducted at a number of secondary schools in Eindhoven shows that the schools also recognise this problem.

Problem

The project had a duration of three years and has in the meantime been completed. At the end of this period, the schools were able to carry out the project independently. Each year had its own specific areas of special attention.

Description

In Eindhoven, a group of immigrant students makes no clear choice for subsequent training after obtaining an initial pre-vocational education or lower general secondary education certificate. The aim is to develop an approach via this project whereby:

the influx of immigrant students into vocational training increases;
the number of immigrant students without starting qualifications decreases;
the employment market prospects of immigrant students improve.

Approach

The immigrants are followed via programme supervision (by the school and intermediaries) and interventions take place during the selection process. The students are followed for a certain period.

The aim of this is to spot factors in a timely fashion that could negatively influence the learning programme of students. The class teacher/mentor at the school fulfils an essential role thereby - he/she is the one in contact with the student, he/she must be alert to all the signals coming from a student.

Furthermore, interventions are used in an attempt to influence the selection process of students. The goal should be that students make a clear choice. The activities of the project are focused particularly on immigrants from 15-18 years old, in the first phase of secondary education.

Results

Within the framework of the project, the pilot study 'Then everything fell into place' showed that of the 35 immigrant participants studied from a total of 176 participants, 42.8% dropped out of the vocational training. This is in keeping with the average of the total group, which is approximately 47%. Moreover, besides the dropouts, 3 participants moved house and no data were available for 4 others.

It is certain that 31.4% did vocational training. This is less than the average (42.6%). The average level on commencing studies is lower than that of native students. The immigrants do not perform noticeably better or worse than average but continue at a lower level.

During the course of the project, the target group was expanded and assessment and present cohort analysis were also deployed in addition counselling. Moreover, the steering group has joined up with pre-vocational secondary education/regional training centre projects and negotiations are underway concerning school career contracts.

Contact info

City of Eindhoven
K. van Lotringen, tel. +31 40 2382798

Project start date

01/01/1997

Links

Tackling dropping out of school (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Training

Keywords

Vocational training