Munich drops plan for closer links between firms and vocational preparation school, citing economy

Munich will not set up a new programme bringing local companies into the city's vocational preparation lessons for young people. Florian Kraus, the city's head of education, said the current economic situation in Munich and the surrounding districts makes closer cooperation impossible for now.

The proposal came from SPD councillors Kathrin Abele, Simone Burger, Christian Köning, Barbara Likus, Cumali Naz, Lena Odell, Klaus Peter Rupp and Julia Schönfeld-Knor on 9 December 2025. They asked the city to work with the Munich and Upper Bavaria Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the municipal vocational preparation school to develop a programme deepening ties between schools and employers. Firms such as BMW, Implenia, MAN and businesses from the chain restaurant sector would have taken an active part in the lessons, giving young people practical insight and improving their chances of moving into an apprenticeship or work.

Kraus said talks were held with the IHK in March 2026. It was agreed that the chamber would first approach companies it knows and ask them about educational partnerships. A final decision not to go ahead was taken after further talks with the chamber in June 2026.

He said the tense economic situation, reflected among other things in job cuts across many different sectors, means the city cannot currently start additional programmes or partnerships that require close collaboration between schools and businesses.

The municipal vocational preparation school already has around 20 partnerships with businesses, coordinated centrally by the staff responsible for the pre-vocational year and project work. MAN, BMW and Implenia already maintain close contact with the school, and Kraus said these existing relationships could remain a valuable foundation if such partnerships are taken up again in future.

The city will continue to monitor the economy and regularly review whether conditions improve. Because the matter was classed as routine business falling to the Lord Mayor rather than the full council, it was answered by letter, and Kraus said he considers it closed.