AVdual is a relatively new course at vocational schools for pupils with or without a lower secondary school leaving certificate, which generally lasts one year. High-achieving students at the Mathilde-Planck-Schule also have the opportunity to obtain a vocational school leaving certificate after two years. The aim of AVdual is to have a suitable apprenticeship at the end of the school year. Alternatively, there is also the option of attending a secondary school. "The special thing about the AVdual course is the intensive and interdisciplinary support," says Andrea Horlacher, Project Manager of Regional Transition Management at the Ludwigburg District Office. "AVdual offers young people with increased support needs in particular an opportunity to make the transition between school and working life," said Andrea Horlacher during the project visit.
In the current school year, two vocational schools are offering the AVdual course: the Robert-Franck-Schule and the Mathilde-Planck-Schule. From September, AVdual will also be offered at the Oscar-Walcker-Schule and the Erich-Bracher-Schule. There are two AVdual classes, one AVdual tutor and 21 teachers in the program at the Mathilde Planck School. Sylke Brüggemann, AVdual tutor at the Mathilde Planck School since the 2018/19 school year, is responsible for everything that is not covered by normal lessons. This also includes working with the young people's parents as well as supporting the application process for an apprenticeship and future planning.
During the visit of the regional working group, the pupils of the Mathilde Planck School presented the cooking skills they had already acquired in the subject "Practical vocational skills". The visitors from the ESF working group, who are responsible for project selection, were impressed by the concept of the AVdual mentor and the entire educational program. Sandra Wallrapp, Head of the Transition Department at Mathilde-Planck-Schule, also reported that demand for the AVdual course is very high at all three vocational schools. According to Wallrapp, the funding of the AVdual tutor by the ESF is therefore important.
Background: In the current funding period of the European Social Fund 2014-2020, the district of Ludwigsburg receives 590,000 euros per year. The regional ESF working group selects the funding projects for the district from the project applications. There are seven ESF-funded projects in the district of Ludwigsburg for 2019, including the AVdual mentors.
