The dual education system is a standardized part of the German vocational training system. Many different types of pathways can be pursued within this basic structure. Children enter compulsory full-time schooling at the age of six. This schooling period lasts nine to ten years. After completing it, young people who do not attend a full-time-school are required to attend a part-time (vocational) school for three years. In Germany, young people are required to attend school until the age of 18. The trainees in the dual system (even those older than 18) are also subject to compulsory schooling.
After the compulsory four-year primary-school period, the educational pathways diverge within the Germany's “divided school system”, which consists of secondary modern schools (Hauptschule), secondary schools (Realschule), comprehensive schools (Gesamtschule), and Gymnasiums. The different pathways often reconverge within the dual system, which accepts the graduates of secondary modern schools, secondary schools, comprehensive schools, and vocational schools. The dual system is the largest component of the Germany’s education system: two-thirds of each age group learn a recognized occupation requiring formal training. The great majority of graduates of dual-system training then work as skilled employees. Many graduates make use of the opportunities for further vocational training. Under certain circumstances, the graduates of such training can also acquire a university entrance certificate after a year of full-time schooling, and then continue to university studies. Successful participants in secondary vocational training are also being increasingly admitted to universities.
General and vocational knowledge is taught within the framework of compulsory education. The graduates receive general secondary education and a vocational certificate in the chosen occupational field.
Administrative specialists (VFA) in Germany are trained professionals of the public service, working in the administrative authorities of the federal, state, municipal, and other public bodies, rarely in church services of the Protestant or Catholic Church. As often entrust tasks of public service exercising their administrative assistants, they function as public officials under § 11, subsection 2 of the Criminal Code (civil servants in legal liability and criminal purposes, but no official within the meaning of Article 33, paragraph 4 GG). Administrative specialist is a recognized training occupation in accordance to the Vocational Training Act.
Abitur (from Latin abeo = leave, go off) is a designation used in Germany and some other European countries for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling.
