Promoting skilled workers – “Qualifications must be worth something!”

Exam fees for final apprenticeship exams – how much money are we talking about and who should pay for it?
Herman Talowski: Currently in Austria we have the absurd situation where companies that train students, i.e. invest massively in the future, are asked to pay. The final exam for the apprenticeship costs 132 euros per student throughout Austria. Although that ‘only’ sounds like a small amount, the total is two million euros in Styria alone. Half of this, or one million euros, goes to companies in the trade and craft sector because we train the majority of our students. And it’s not just about the money: it’s about the message you send.

Namely that the apprenticeship system is in worse shape compared to other courses?
Yes, that’s how it comes across. No one should have to pay a fee for a high school diploma, but when it comes to students, you are at least symbolically putting the training companies in the way from the start – that can’t be right! The trade and craft sector is therefore committed to ensuring that the examination fees for the final apprenticeship examinations, which must be paid by entrepreneurs, are paid by the public sector. Qualifications must be worth something!

A lot has already happened in the field of improving education and further careers in education…
Yes, that’s right, important steps have been taken here. From 2024, exam costs for aspiring masters and qualified candidates will be covered. In concrete terms, the public sector is taking overExamination fee for the first and second attempt at module exams 1, 2 and 3 of the master and qualification exams and for the entrepreneurial exam. In addition, within the framework of the National Qualification Framework, the master’s degree is equivalent to the bachelor’s degree, namely at level 6.

And that you can have the title registered.
Yes, that is a special feature. We wanted to give this token of appreciation. After all, the master’s or qualifying exam is the highest level of professional qualification.

What significance does apprenticeship have from a macroeconomic perspective?
Of our more than 45,000 affiliated companies, 2,500 are training companies that train almost 7,000 students. These are the professionals of tomorrow! Very important: I absolutely do not want school and teaching to be opposed to each other. All professional and career paths are equal, but teaching simply deserves even more attention than it currently receives. There is still room for improvement!

What are the plans now in terms of exam fees?
The further procedure is currently being developed in the project team of the Advisory Council on Economic Policy in the Field of Education, Youth and Skilled Workers. As a next step, we will submit a motion to the Economic Parliament to gain support for this issue. We are convinced that paying the exam fees means an appreciation of the training companies for the training of skilled workers. We also want to initiate a debate about the acceptance of remuneration during vocational education. Today, valuing training companies is more important than ever, and we also need public awareness and recognition, and at least financial equality with those who do not offer training.

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