Expanding avenues for employment participation
In recent years, the integration of immigrants into the German labour market has faced numerous challenges due to insufficient language proficiency among many newcomers. The Else Schütz Foundation, based in Montabaur, is playing a crucial role in addressing these issues by providing financial support for DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) preparation courses.
The DTZ course, designed for individuals seeking to retake the "German Test for Immigrants," is particularly beneficial for those who narrowly missed the B1 level on their first attempt. In a recent development, vhs Neuwied was able to fill a gap and implement the DTZ preparation course thanks to the financial support from the Else Schütz Foundation gGmbH.
The course, consisting of 100 teaching units led by qualified vhs teaching staff, aimed to help individuals gain the B1 German level. The success of the course saw the majority of participants achieving the desired DTZ certificate on their second attempt, providing them with a realistic perspective on the job market.
The Else Schütz Foundation's support has been instrumental in helping immigrants reach the required language levels to pass the DTZ, which certifies German language competencies essential for employment and integration. The foundation's commitment also extends to providing tailored language training that focuses on occupational relevance, aiding immigrants in overcoming language barriers to employment.
The DTZ preparation course at vhs Neuwied is not just about language proficiency, but also about integration. It is intended to help individuals overcome the lack of language certification as a barrier to a new life in Germany. However, the reduction in the federal program "Overall Language Program" due to the revision of the Integration Course Ordinance at the end of 2024 has resulted in a loss of opportunities for participants to achieve the B1 German level and gain occupationally relevant language skills.
Mayor Peter Jung has expressed concern about the difficult situation caused by federal funding cuts, stating that integration courses are key to social participation. Meike Pfeiffer, Head of the Integration Department at vhs Neuwied, expressed satisfaction with the course's outcome, and Mayor Jung has stated that he deeply regrets the restrictions and will continue to work towards facilitating access to education and integration for people in Neuwied.
In the future, Meike Pfeiffer has expressed a desire for similar concepts to be implemented. A potential solution to the challenges faced by immigrants in acquiring occupationally relevant language skills could be early and continuous language education, starting before school age, to improve foundational skills. Offering specialized preparation courses like those from the Else Schütz Foundation can also bridge language proficiency gaps specifically targeted at occupational needs.
Policy measures to balance migrant intake with resources for language education are also necessary to avoid classroom overcrowding and ensure focus on language acquisition. Integrating language learning with vocational training and work experience can contextualize skills for better labour market outcomes.
Thus, the dual strategy of government policy emphasizing early language proficiency combined with targeted support from organizations like the Else Schütz Foundation provides a pathway for immigrants to overcome language barriers in occupational contexts in Germany.
[1] [Bildungsministerium Baden-Württemberg](https://www.bmbw.land/de/themen/integration/integration-im-bildungssystem/index.html) [2] [Deutsche Welle](https://www.dw.com/en/germany-tightens-integration-rules-for-foreign-workers/a-57384235) [3] [Deutschlandfunk](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/integration-kinder-deutsch-unterricht-in-deutschland-100.html) [4] [Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung](https://www.bmbf.de/de/integration-im-bildungssystem-17902.html)
The DTZ preparation course, supported by the Else Schütz Foundation, is not solely focused on language proficiency but also on education-and-self-development, contributing to personal-growth and learning. The course aids immigrants in acquiring the B1 German level necessary for employment and integration, while extending to tailored language training that focuses on occupational relevance, thereby aiding in personal-growth and learning.
