Polytechnischer Lehrgang#

Polytechnischer Lehrgang, one-year course compulsory for students of the ninth grade who do not attend upper secondary schools; introduced in 1962; serves the dual purposes of further general education and vocational orientation. The system makes use of the experience gained with the "Einjaehrige Lehrkurse fuer Schulentlassene" (one-year courses for school leavers, introduced in 1903). Despite many reforms and changes the system has remained open to criticism.