Dresden/Kamenz (dpa/sn) – In Saxony, the number of students at vocational schools has increased. The Saxony State Statistical Office announced on Tuesday that there were 229 more students in the schools this school year than in the previous year. This is an increase of 0.2 percent compared to the previous school year. According to this, around 104,400 young women and men are currently studying at the 240 schools.

The vocational preparation year recorded the largest percentage increase in the number of students at 31 percent – 971 more than in the previous year. The increase is largely due to the admission of young Ukrainian refugees into the school system, it said. In addition, the number of students at vocational grammar schools increased by 91, at technical colleges by 61 and at vocational schools by 314 students. However, the number of students at vocational schools, technical schools and in the basic vocational training year has fallen compared to the previous year.

According to the State Statistical Office, a total of 43,338 newcomers began their training at a vocational school this school year. This is 835 more than in the previous year. Of these, 63.6 percent had a secondary school leaving certificate, 12.3 percent had a secondary school leaving certificate and 10.3 percent had a general higher education entrance qualification. According to statistics, 10.4 percent did not have a secondary school certificate. The proportion of new entrants with a general higher education entrance qualification is said to have been particularly high at vocational schools, followed by technical schools and vocational schools.