Improvement of working world competences of students with special needs – An external evaluation of a pilot project

The transition from school to employment in the labour market is especially difficult for youngsters with learning disabilities. In the year 2000 the Ministry of Education of the federal state of North Rhine Westphalia in Germany approved a pilot scheme “Hand-Werk-Lernen” (“Learning Trade”) which aimed to forge a stronger linkage between school and work environment. In addition to the teaching staff, professionals representing various trades, crafts and services are engaged in schools to improve the pupils’ professional competencies. With the research project the effects of the pilot scheme with respect to the integration into the labour market are evaluated. The results don’t prove effects with respect to better professional competencies due to the craft and service professionals. Nevertheless there are significant gender effects: Girls from the pilot scheme with exceptionally male professionals are assessed to be significantly less motivated than girls in schools without the scheme.