Anniversary of the Bergkamen vocational school (Germany) !

25th anniversary of the Bergkamen vocational school (Germany) !

The pictures on this page were taken on the open day of the vocational school in the city of Bergkamen (Germany) on August, 23rd in 2007. This school is run by the RAG Bildung (translation: "RAG education"), a subsidiary company of the RAG, the former Ruhrkohle AG. The RAG Bildung is running another vocational school in the city of Gelsenkirchen that celebrates its 25th anniversary in this year, as well.

In the Bergkamen vocational school that is situated on the area of the former Grimberg shafts three and four in Bergkamen's suburb Weddinghofen 28 different jobs are taught. There are miners and a special kind of mechanics, but these qualified jobs will be given up in the next time at that school, because there is no demand in the economy. Additionally future mining engineers and businessmen can be found at that school. On the same area as the vocational school there is a technical college where electricial engineers and mechanical engineers are educated.

For the mining engineers - that is the class I visited during the open day - there is only one employer, Ost colliery in the city of Hamm (Germany). Each class has only about 17 to 18 pupils so that a very good quality of education can be guaranteed. In the first year of their apprenticeship the future mining engineers learn everything about metal - the theoretical part in the vocational school and the practical part in the workshops of Ost colliery. In the second year the trainees learn how to weld, to turn and to mill. During that part of the apprenticeship the work in groups of only a few pupils is very important. In the second year the intermediate exam takes place, as well.

In the second and the third year of the apprenticeship the trainees go underground, too. The intention is to teach them everything they have to know about working underground, for example the special safety measures, how to operate the machines, the different ways of transportation etc..

After this introduction I wish you a lot of pleasure while watching the photos that can be found under this text. If you discover yourself in one of the pictures and if you do not want the photo to be published here, please send me an e-mail.

Please click on the photos' small versions in order to enlarge them and to get the corresponding background information. ATTENTION: The pictures' explanations can now be found UNDER the large versions.


The poster of the open day.	A roadway in the schoolyard in Bergkamen.	The roadway from a bit closer.	Really interesting technical data.


Here you can see who built the roadway.	My three companions at the vocational school.	A large collection of stones and minerals.	Even more showcases at the other wall.


Different kinds of coke in glasses.	An early way of protecting the environment.	What kind of stone is this ?	Here you can find the answer.


Even large rocks could be seen in the school.	Two apprentices in front of a mock-up.	The mock-up of a new roadway that is built.	The classrooms of the mining engineers.


A sectional view of Wilhelm seam is explained here.	A view into the mining engineers' classroom.	The classroom seen from the other side.	The group of future mining engineers.


There are large solar panels at the school.	Lots of groups, communities etc. were present.	A part of the schoolyard and of the building.	A flag on the roof of the refectory.


A special tunnel in the schoolyard in Bergkamen.	The other side of the tunnel.