Inclusive education is a win-win for everyone

When the “School Profile Inclusion” was awarded, students from the Greta Fischer School and the Dachau Vocational School Center provided the supporting program. © Photo: Matthias Balk/Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture

The Dachau vocational school center and the Greta Fischer School have received the “School Profile Inclusion” certificate.

Dachau – Inclusion is more than just a buzzword at the Dachau Vocational School Center (BSZ) and also at the Greta Fischer School – it is part of everyday life. In addition to the ongoing commitment, the schools applied as cooperation partners for the “Inclusion School Profile” two years ago. The schools have now been presented with the certificate from the Bavarian Ministry of Culture, as the Dachau district office announced in a press release. The inclusive education project is a win-win for everyone: young people are optimally prepared for their professional future, and training companies benefit from the targeted support of their young talent. “We all see ourselves confirmed in firmly anchoring inclusion and individual support in our school profile,” says Frank Ritzel, headmaster of the BSZ.

For many years, the BSZ has specifically addressed the individual support needs of its students – from emotional and social support to aids for young people with visual or hearing impairments. With the “School Profile Inclusion” award, the school now has expanded opportunities to intensify this commitment. In close cooperation with the Greta Fischer School special education support center, the BSZ team has developed comprehensive measures to successfully accompany all students – regardless of their personal requirements – through the vocational preparation year or training.

The teachers at the Greta Fischer School work closely with the BSZ staff to identify students’ specific needs at an early stage and provide targeted assistance. Individual support is the focus. The aim is to create a learning environment in which each individual can develop. Young people with special needs also benefit from targeted support and cooperation. The dropout rate at the BSZ has already been reduced and the general level of technical and social skills has been steadily increased: possible learning difficulties or special needs are identified at the beginning of the school year with the help of questionnaires. This information helps teaching staff to offer appropriate support measures at an early stage.

For example, it is possible to meet individual needs through special individual lessons and targeted support. “The colleagues at the Greta Fischer School have a special eye for details and support us in solving even difficult situations with small adjustments,” says Ritzel.

School management Viktoria Ledermann confirms that the Greta Fischer School also benefits: “The cooperation is a great benefit for us. We have been working together on joint projects for many years.” With the cooperation, the teachers now get an insight into the lessons and the structures of the vocational school and regularly bring valuable ideas with them, says Ledermann.

In addition to the long-standing collaboration with primary and secondary schools, the cooperation and the inclusive school profile now offer direct benefits for the students: They are comprehensively prepared for the transition to vocational training and an independent life. Through close contact with the vocational school, they gain insights into suitable career fields and career opportunities that match their strengths and interests.

Stefan Rauchecker, project supervisor and contact person for inclusion at the BSZ, summarizes: “With the school profile inclusion, the vocational school center has set itself the central goal of building a strong network that specifically supports students with special educational needs. Thanks to this network, the teaching design could be further developed so that it optimally meets the different needs of the students.” Ritzel adds: “Inclusion is not a standard program. It thrives on people’s commitment, and it makes me proud to see how much our teachers achieve with their commitment,” said headmaster Frank Ritzel. dn