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"You pay for school books and calculators yourself."

You need books and materials for vocational school — who pays?

§ 14 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 BBiG / Lernmittelfreiheit der Länder

It depends …
Materials for the company: the company pays — school books often you or the state.
The company must provide you free of charge with all training materials you need for in-company training and the exams: tools, materials, specialist literature, and for mobile training also hardware and software (§ 14 (1) no. 3 BBiG). Materials required only by the vocational school are, according to the prevailing view, not included. Whether you have to buy school books yourself is regulated by the federal states through free learning materials rules — in some states the school provides books free of charge or on loan, in others you pay a contribution. Many companies and collective agreements cover the costs voluntarily anyway. If you also need the same book at work or for the exam, it is a training material.

What the law says

§ 14 (1) no. 3 BBiG – Training materials
Trainers must provide trainees free of charge with the training materials, in particular tools, materials and specialist literature, required for the training and for taking intermediate and final exams.

What you can do

  1. Ask the school about lending or free learning materials in your state.
  2. Ask the company — many cover school books voluntarily.
  3. Exam literature and reference books you also use at work must be provided by the company.
  4. Keep receipts: work materials you paid for yourself are tax-deductible.

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