Recoge: 1. Structural features of the federal republic of germany -- 2. The history of vocational training -- 3. The dual system of vocational training -- 4. The vocational schools -- 5. Problem groups of vocational training -- 6. Adult vocational training -- 7. Special forms of vocational training -- 8. Vocational preparation and integration measures financed by the labour authorities -- 9. Vocational training research and financing of vocational training -- 10. Problems and trends.

Since the states of the Federal Republic of Germany enjoy autonomy regarding all educational matters, coordination is ensured by various commissions and ministries. Compulsory full-time education from ages 6 to 15 is followed by compulsory part-time release until age 18. Education is divided into primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, and higher. The basic system of vocational education and training is the Dual System, under which a young person on a training contract or apprenticeship receives vocational training in the firm while attending a vocational school. The upper secondary system is divided into vocational schools and general education and "mixed-type" schools. Adult Education Institutes provide a wide variety of leisure, cultural, and vocational studies. (Brief overviews are offered on teachers, examinations, and curriculum coordination.) The country has responded with five sets of measures to solve the problems of the transition from school to working life: the curriculum component, learning about the world of work, vocational guidance, the vocational orientation year, a basic vocational training year, and apprenticeships. Problems of the 1980s include graduate unemployment and need for labor force flexibility. Appendixes include a typical plan of the states' educational systems, a glossary, and background information on the country. (YLB)

Comparison of vocational education and vocational training in Germany, Federal Republic, Japan, UK and the USA - considers economic implications; draws conclusions for UK training policy and makes recommendations with stress on improvements in the Youth Training Scheme; describes the training system in each country; covers costs per trainee, financing, training participation rate and training course graduates. Statistical tables.