Reference year 2019
Understanding of apprenticeships in the national context
Decree on vocational and educational training in small and medium sized businesses (Dekret über die Aus- und Weiterbildung im Mittelstand und in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen vom 16. Dezember 1991)
Order of the government of the German speaking community to determine the training conditions for apprentices and training companies (Erlass der Regierung der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft zur Festlegung der Ausbildungsbedingungen für mittelständische Lehrlinge und Ausbildungsbetriebe vom 4. Juni 2009)
Decree on vocational and educational training in small and medium sized businesses (Dekret über die Aus- und Weiterbildung im Mittelstand und in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen vom 16. Dezember 1991)
All apprenticeship programmes are accessible at upper secondary level and post-secondary level. Dual bachelor studies at post-secondary level.
Industrial apprenticeship is provided at sectoral level, trainings organised by Forem (Arbeitsamt Ostbelgien)
In 1992 the German Speaking community became autonomous in organising apprenticeship. Before then it was depending from the Walloon Government but already from the mid 50ies on, apprenticeship has been organised for German speaking people in Belgium.
Although the German Speaking community was depending from the Walloon government before 1991, it has nowadays developed its own identity and concepts. This is why for Belgium it is still important to make the difference between the three language groups and their depending territories as apprenticeship schemes differ, as well as providers, duration, certifications, administration and legal framework.
In addition to the mainstream apprenticeship scheme, there is also the industrial apprenticeship scheme organised by the federations, available for only a few occupations in the food industry. Since it is not implemented at mainstream level, it is not covered by a scheme fiche in Cedefop European database of apprenticeship schemes.