Integration: Pilot project for refugees
YOU JUST HAVE TO WANT IT The integration pre-apprenticeship program for refugees and temporarily admitted persons is on track: After the first year, the garage owners of the Auto Gewerbe Verband Schweiz are pleased with the positive results. Since last summer, refugees with F and B permits have been able to complete a one-year integration pre-apprenticeship with AGVS garage owners. The vocational field of automotive has so far been [...]
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Since last summer, refugees with F and B permits have been able to complete a one-year pre-apprenticeship integration program at AGVS garages. The automotive vocational field has so far been offered in the cantons of Solothurn, Valais and Zurich.
Starting in the 2019/20 school year, the Central Switzerland Section will also participate in the pilot project of the State Secretariat for Migration with eight to ten participants.
Apprenticeship contract for basic training
In the canton of Zurich, all six participants have an apprenticeship contract for basic training with a federal vocational certificate (EBA) or federal
certificate of proficiency (EFZ). Among them was Mebrhatom Gebremeskel from Eritrea, who completed his integration pre-apprenticeship at Garage F. + Ch. Müller AG in Steinmaur, the company of Zurich AGVS section president Christian Müller.
Companies see project as an opportunity
Mebrhatom Gebremeskel: "The most important thing for me was to learn how to work in Switzerland, what the rules are and how to deal with work colleagues and employers."
Melanie Aardalsbakke, project manager at the Office of Secondary Education and Vocational Training of the Canton of Zurich, also draws a positive conclusion: "It is striking how committed many apprenticeship companies are and also perceive this project as an opportunity and a broadening of horizons." Twelve Zurich garage companies have already signed up again for the coming school year.
Automotive assistant training
The Solothurn section was in charge on the part of the AGVS and worked out the applicable competence grid together with the head office in Bern. This sets out the teaching content of integration teaching. The grid ensures that training is carried out according to the same criteria throughout Switzerland.
Thomas Jenni, Managing Director of the AGVS Solothurn Section: "The basis for this was provided by the automotive assistant training. The participants work in the garage for three days a week and attend school for two days. In addition to language acquisition and learning about the cultural, economic and political characteristics of Switzerland, they receive technical instruction there."
Experience in the Swiss working world
Olivier Maeder, responsible for vocational training at the AGVS: "Thanks to the integration pre-apprenticeship, the participants can gain experience in the Swiss working world and learn the language in parallel. Thanks to this basis, they can later do an EBA or EFZ apprenticeship. In this way, they also make a contribution to alleviating the skilled labor situation."