However, District Administrator Allgaier also saw parallels between the current situation and the situation before the district of Ludwigsburg took over sponsorship: "As early as the mid-1960s, there were calls for a radical change in vocational education and for schools to be modernized and adapted to the world of work. The pace of change in the world of work is accelerating, and working in the digital age is determined by Industry 4.0, automation and the use of artificial intelligence. Vocational schools have the task of optimally preparing students for the world of work. For this reason, digitalization is a particular priority for us as a school authority." According to Allgaier, the digital pact and the immediate equipment program for students in need are important building blocks for achieving the goal more quickly. The funding for the district from the digital pact alone amounts to around 4.5 million euros. The district will be able to access this funding in full by 2022. In this context, the district administrator thanked Minister Dr. Eisenmann for the financial support from the state.
"Our vocational schools and, in particular, our dual training system are a global flagship and trademark of Baden-Württemberg. They are part of our state's success story and are indispensable for our economy. Vocational schools make an invaluable contribution to the personal development of young people and to their social integration. All of this is largely thanks to our districts as school authorities. In order to maintain and further expand the high quality standard, the district of Ludwigsburg is constantly investing in its schools in close partnership with the state and is one of the pioneers in many areas, above all digitalization," said Minister of Education Dr. Eisenmann, adding: "When we look back on 50 years of school sponsorship today, the pandemic shows how urgently we need the skills that are taught at vocational schools - for example in the field of education or care. Vocational schools are simply indispensable."
Eisenmann and Allgaier had previously spoken to students at a breakfast in the CSS about what moves them, for example what they particularly like about their school, what they would improve, how well they feel prepared for working life by the vocational school and whether the coronavirus pandemic has changed their plans for the future. At the beginning, the minister and district administrator reported on their own school days.
On May 29, 1970, the district council unanimously decided to take over the school's sponsorship, which began on August 1, 1970. At the time, the school development plan stipulated that different types of schools should be brought together under one roof: this led to the construction of the school centers on Römerhügel in Ludwigsburg and in Bietigheim-Bissingen in the early 1970s. The district invested around 60 million Deutschmarks in these two school centers alone. After pupil numbers rose sharply in the first decade, the 1980s and 1990s saw a renewed push towards modernization and expansion. The former high school in Pattonville was purchased in 1995 by a decision of the district council for 8.7 million Deutschmarks and the Erich Bracher School was established there from 1996. However, a lot was done not only in terms of construction, but also in terms of the education on offer. The number of pupils rose from just over 7,000 in 1970 to almost 10,000 in 2020.
The investments for the vocational school buildings alone, excluding ongoing maintenance, add up to around 137 million euros over the 50 years. "Even if this figure doesn't cover everything in terms of costs, I think it's a considerable sum. It shows that both the district council and the district administration are expressly behind the vocational schools," said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier.
