Training to become a state-recognised educator
Explanations on the duration of training and admission requirements
The pilot project, in which training to become a state-recognised nursery school teacher is being carried out for the first time via Chemnitz City Council, takes the form of practice-integrated or basic four-year training (part-time). This is a special form of the existing three-year school-based training programme (full-time).
The same entry requirements apply for the practice-integrated training programme as for the regular three-year full-time training programme: If you have an intermediate school-leaving certificate, vocational training is mandatory. If this is relevant (e.g. social assistant), the applicant can immediately start training to become an educator. In the case of non-relevant vocational training, either one year of relevant work experience (e.g. FSJ) or two years of work experience in the profession is required.
In addition, applicants with a secondary school leaving certificate and at least seven years of full-time employment in the social sector may also be considered. It is also possible for applicants with a technical college entrance qualification specialising in health and social services to enter the educator training programme directly.
All applicants must submit an extended certificate of good conduct for submission to the authorities as well as medical proof of health suitability to the technical college.
The special feature of the practice-integrated training programme is that the specialist students conclude a training contract with a child and youth welfare organisation and thus receive a training allowance (in accordance with TVAöD-Pflege). In the practical training centres, students work in crèches, kindergartens and after-school care centres. Training at the technical college and in the practical centre alternates every 14 days.
The City of Chemnitz, as the funding organisation, pays its trainees a training fee of between 1,190 euros in the first year of training and up to 1,353 euros in the fourth year of training.
However, the training programme can still be completed as a regular three-year full-time school-based course. Students at the three-year full-time school may be able to receive student BAföG or funding via AFBG (so-called Meister-BAföG).
Overall responsibility for the training remains with the Vocational School Centre for Health and Social Services in Chemnitz (in accordance with the Education Act).