Teachers at vocational schools plan lessons and conduct teaching on the basis of theoretical knowledge as well as practical know-how. In Germany, the vocational education sector includes part-time and full-time vocational schools, specialized technical colleges, academies, institutions for supplementary vocational education, and senior technical schools. One of the biggest challenges facing teachers in this field is the fact that the student body is often heterogeneous in terms of learning skills, an aspect that requires as much consideration as the students' psychosocial needs. New developments, especially in technical fields, mean that the careers that students will go on to enter are in a state of constant change, thus affecting both teacher training and vocational school teaching. Vocational school teachers in Germany are usually senior civil servants, which entails additional administrative duties such as keeping student records or assuming responsibility for an individual class.

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