The choice between an apprenticeship and a school-leaving certificate depends on individual goals, interests and future plans. Both paths have their advantages and can lead to a successful career. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a degree.
Education leading to an apprenticeship certificate is more focused on practical skills, which are given high priority during the studies. Students get work experience both within the school and with external contractors, so students get to experience their field in the real world and are not limited to school classes. This ensures faster entry into the job market after graduation, as students are equipped with a decent practical foundation for their trade. At the same time, these apprenticeship training programmes tend to be shorter and less costly than school-leaving courses. Cooperation with foreign schools and private companies is now also part of apprenticeship training.
In contrast, baccalaureate courses provide a broader general education that includes not only vocational subjects but also general subjects such as mathematics, languages and social sciences. A high school diploma is also a prerequisite for applying to university, and in some fields and for some positions, a high school diploma is a minimum requirement for employment. A broader education can provide more flexibility to change career direction or pace.
The ideal then seems to be a combination of both, i.e. after the apprenticeship to enrol in further studies leading to the matriculation certificate, which can nowadays be done either by studying at secondary school or through full vocational qualification courses, with which you can obtain the matriculation certificate in a realistic short time, depending on how quickly you can pass the course and prepare for all the other requirements of the matriculation test. In addition, you can complete your matriculation or apprenticeship certificate while you are already actively working, without ever having to apply for a high school diploma.
So the choice between a high school diploma and a high school diploma depends on what you expect from your education and career. If you have a clear idea that you want to work in a particular field and start working as soon as possible, an apprenticeship certificate may be a good choice. On the other hand, if you wish to continue your studies at university or have wider career development opportunities, a school leaving certificate will be more suitable. At the European Training Academy, you can obtain both a school-leaving certificate and a school-leaving diploma, and it is also possible to go on to further professional studies at university level and obtain, for example, an MBA.
Zdroj: Evropská akademie vzdělávání (European Academy of education)