The city of Munich wants to further promote educational justice and equal opportunities by employing additional staff for school social work at two of its vocational schools. The city council’s vacation senate has now decided to set up positions for vocational school social work and school social pedagogy at the vocational school for professional integration on Balanstrasse and at the vocational school for professional preparation on Bogenhauser Kirchplatz from September 1st. Both schools are attended by many students with problematic backgrounds.
The Municipal Vocational School for Professional Integration on Balanstrasse is a competence center for new immigrants and refugees between the ages of 15 and 20. It was founded in August 2016 and grew out of the branch of the vocational school for career preparation that was established in 2011. 4.5 permanent vocational school social work positions are now to be set up at this school. The costs are shared between the Social Affairs Department and the Department of Education and Sports. The money is made available as a transfer payment to the local provider of school social work, the MVHS.
The Municipal Vocational School at Bogenhauser Kirchplatz is a school for career preparation. All students who have successfully completed a year of vocational preparation here receive a secondary school certificate. The Social Affairs Department/City Youth Welfare Office will also be setting up two permanent vocational school social work positions here from September 1st. In addition, the Department of Education and Sports will be setting up two permanent school social work positions. Here, too, the two departments will share the costs.
City School Councillor Florian Kraus: “I am very pleased that the students at the vocational schools at Bogenhauser Kirchplatz and Balanstraße now have more vocational school social workers and social educators permanently available. For the young people who often have to struggle with particularly great challenges in their lives, this is urgently needed support. This step ensures a little more educational justice and equal opportunities in the state capital of Munich.”
Social worker Dorothee Schiwy: “Vocational school social work is an important building block in supporting young people on their way into working life and for individual personal development. The vocational preparatory classes at both locations are particularly important to us, as these young people often have to deal with many personal and professional uncertainties and come from family constellations that themselves require support. It is precisely here that vocational school social work represents a valuable constant that picks up young people where they are and accompanies them on their personal, academic and professional career for the duration of their time at vocational school.”
