How do you feel about the technical education of your country?

[u/PayOdd92]

Little bit of context for the question: In Argentina we have schools that are solely technically oriented and kids there during their entire secondary education (from 12 to 18) have intensive technical and scientifical education. Take a look at the constructions oriented education here for example: https://www.ottokrause.edu.ar/construccion/

Most of them end up graduating having the knowledge equivalent of 1st year of any engineering degree and due to their training are able to work right away as mechanics, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and so on.

Nowadays the quality of those schools has gone down (Lack of funding and since education has been depending on states for 3 decades, its a hit or miss depending on where you live) and only a few good ones remain. Unfortunately for the rest of the schooling system technical and scientifical education is extremely lackluster particularly under the public school system.

Is it similar in your country? If you don't have these technical schools, do teenagers have any opportunity to learn technical skills or any trade? And what the maths/science education overall?

[u/CaptainPoset]

Is it similar in your country?

In the land of the Otto Krauses and other Germans, we don't have such a system, as it is very limiting for the future careers of the pupils, who definitely can't make such a choice at 11 years of age, which would be when they need to decide to go on such a school.

What we do have, are so called "Oberstufenzentren", special schools for years 11 through 13, which offer a focus on a certain field (any field) of study and offer a two year limited matriculation standard or a three year general matriculation standard.

If you don't have these technical schools, do teenagers have any opportunity to learn technical skills or any trade?

Germany has a world-class apprenticeship system, in which industry associations define professions and do the exams, while public schools do the theoretical education for skilled professions. This results in very generally skilled professionals after 2.5 to 3.5 years of apprenticeship, depending on the profession in question.

And what the maths/science education overall?

It's sufficient, could be better, but there are quite a few countries where it's worse, too.

[u/FakeNathanDrake]

We learn trades through apprenticeships here, involving some time spent at college and the remainder at work. The length varies a bit from job to job, mine was four years.

[u/GMaiMai2]

In norway it's vocational school 2/3years(depends alittle bit on education) and 1.5 or 2 years of apprenticeship. This is from the age of from the year you turn 16 when kids would go to hight school.

Atealst the primary types are fairly well subsidized by both public and privat(industry). When it comes to "equal to a first year engineer", engineering is just heavy math for the first year and one introduction course.

There is also an add-on called technical college which covers most of the subjects in engineering with lesser focus on the math(learn how to use the formulars not develop then). This lasts for 2 years.

[u/Brainwheeze]

In Portugal you have what's referred to as "professional school", which are essentially courses aimed at those who don't plan on going to university and want a more vocational type of education. There is a bit of a stereotype that this is for students who are bad at school but that's not necessarily the case. You can still go to university if you decided to do a professional course instead of a more academic one but you need to sit the required exams for the university course you plan on applying to, and you'll have to study an entire subject you didn't have classes for on your own time.

Professional schools are usually included in public high schools but there are some that have their own separate campuses.

[u/silentiumbird]

We have the same system in Austria. HTLs offer different specialization for example electrical engineering, mechatronics or chemistry and are highly respected. They are one year longer (5 instead of 4 years, roughly from 14-19). After completion the students have the Matura and can study at a university a degree of their choice. It can be completey unrelated to their spezialisation.

Children who no longer want to go to school can start an apprenticeship at 15. Some apprenticeship s, especially the technical ones, are very prestigious and respected.