Twenty-four students from Delhi government-run CM SHRI schools left for Germany on Saturday under the APAL (Aarambh Placement and Learning) programme, while five others secured admissions and scholarships for higher education in Germany and Japan, according to an official statement from the Education Department.
The students were seen off by Education Minister Ashish Sood, who interacted with them before their departure and wished them success, the statement said.
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Government officials said this is the second batch of students to travel abroad under the APAL programme. While 14 students were sent to Germany last year, the latest batch of 24 marks an expansion of the overseas vocational training initiative.
According to the statement, the students travelling to Germany will undergo the country’s dual vocational education and training programme after completing German language and intercultural orientation courses.
The programme combines classroom learning with paid industry training over a period of two to three-and-a-half years, with trainees receiving a monthly stipend.
Separately, two students have secured scholarships to study at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology in Japan, one student has been admitted to RWTH Aachen University in Germany, and two others have been awarded the MEXT Scholarship offered by the Government of Japan, the government said.
The APAL programme was launched by the AAP-led Delhi government in October 2024 in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and leading German industries, with a plan to send batches of 30 to 40 students beginning in 2025. Officials said the initiative focuses on language training, industry partnerships, and international placements to improve students’ employability.
Last year, the first batch of 14 students travelled to Germany under the programme after undergoing preparatory language and cultural training. According to government officials, this year’s expansion reflects efforts to increase international academic and vocational opportunities for students from Delhi’s CM SHRI and other government schools.