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Germans Get Engineers Started Young

Top firms aim to turn kindergartners toward tech careers

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 17, 2008 12:49 PM CDT

(Newser) – With a personnel shortfall that's serious and getting worse, Germany wants to get its next generation of engineers started as soon as possible, the Financial Times reports. Hundreds of companies are sending materials and experts to kindergartens to try interest youngsters in technology and science. They hope getting the tots interested early will preserve Germany's reputation as a land of engineering.

"We want to excite children about technology from the earliest age. What they learn then can stay with them for the rest of their lives,” one exec said. "We are working with kindergartens," said another. "This is our future and we need to seize it.”

Frederik, Raeven and Zulu look through magnifiers during an experiment 22 October 2007 at their 'Ina.Kinder.Garten' day-care center in Berlin's Kreuzberg district.
Frederik, Raeven and Zulu look through magnifiers during an experiment 22 October 2007 at their 'Ina.Kinder.Garten' day-care center in Berlin's Kreuzberg district.   (Getty Images)
German companies are providing kindergartens with money and expertise to try and get children interested in technology and science as early as possible.
German companies are providing kindergartens with money and expertise to try and get children interested in technology and science as early as possible.   ((c) lonoak)
A German toddler  looks at a book at a kindergarten in Berlin, 03 May 2007. German firms are working to get children interested in technology and science as early as possible.
A German toddler looks at a book at a kindergarten in Berlin, 03 May 2007. German firms are working to get children interested in technology and science as early as possible.   (Getty Images)
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