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Two-year apprenticeships for young people with learning difficulties: a cost-benefit analysis for training firms
Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training volume 2, pages 107–125 (2010)
Abstract
Education policymakers are currently faced with the challenge of enabling young people with learning difficulties to achieve an upper-secondary level qualification. Switzerland has introduced a new type of combined school/work-based VET programme that lasts two years. One of the key pre-requisites for success of two-year VET programmes is the willingness of host companies to create an adequate number of apprenticeship positions. We therefore examine the costs and benefits of two-year VET programmes for a sample of 409 host companies. Our main findings indicate that, on average, the value of the productive output of apprentices in two-year VET programmes slightly exceeds the overall costs of the training provided by host companies. Firms that operate in a competitive market are thus able to provide apprenticeship training to less capable young people.
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The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Training (OPET).
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Fuhrer, M., Schweri, J. Two-year apprenticeships for young people with learning difficulties: a cost-benefit analysis for training firms. Empirical Res Voc Ed Train 2, 107–125 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546491
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546491