Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE Germany eV) is a German association “which aims to promote self-confidence and entrepreneurship in public and private schools”. For this purpose, training courses are offered for teachers and teaching materials are provided. The aim of the association is to promote self-confidence, initiative and entrepreneurship among young people between 13 and 20 years of age. The association offers teachers business training in entrepreneurship education.

NFTE, pronounced "NIFTI", was founded in 1987 in the USA and is a concept there to introduce students to sustainable entrepreneurship. There are now NFTE organizations in eleven countries around the world. NFTE Germany is a member of the “Entrepreneurship Makes School” initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics.

history

In 1987, the NFTE was founded in New York City by former entrepreneur and high school teacher Steve Mariotti .

In 2004 the NFTE was founded in Germany.

The NFTE has been a member of the “Entrepreneurship goes to school” initiative since 2010.

financing

According to the association, around half of the annual budget of 270,000 euros comes from public funds, around 60,000 euros come from foundations and another 50,000 euros are donations.

Self-image

According to its own information, the NFTE promotes creativity, entrepreneurship, independence and self-confidence in young people between the ages of 13 and 20 and imparts knowledge about economic relationships.

In projects, they playfully deal with the option of starting a company.

criticism

The NFTE is accused of doing massive lobbying in schools. In the documents that are given out to schoolchildren, there are many names of companies (this is forbidden in school books) that are described as particularly exemplary.

In some cases, passages from corporate advertising are printed uncritically: “You have probably seen the street furniture from Wall AG before. This company was founded by the entrepreneur Hans Wall. Today it employs more than 750 people worldwide in an elegant company headquarters in Berlin. [...] Incidentally, Hans Wall is also committed to his social environment. Google the keywords 'Wall AG Sponsoring' ”.

The education and science union (GEW) complains about the "one-sided, lobbyist influence on schools and teaching". The GEW thinks that an influence "in favor of the economy" is "clearly recognizable".

Prof. Hedtke criticizes the attempts by NFTE to want to “have a direct and indirect influence on state teacher training”.

In the federal state of Hesse, the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs critically assessed a textbook provided by the NFTE and announced that there would be no advertising or support for NFTE in the future either. With the decree of July 11, 2016, the use of the NFTE textbook in Hessian schools was prohibited - with a. The following reason: "The preparation of this textbook does not comply with the school regulations and in particular violates the ban on advertising that exists in Hessian schools." The Hessian state parliament member Daniel May (The Greens) counts "advertising in 50 places" and it is "a mystery, why it should strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit of the students if we allow such books ”.

The state student council of Hessen criticizes NFTE for its influence on schools and lessons: “The accompanying booklet was full of brands and logos. The tasks then did not say 'Lisa will buy 20 bottles of water', but rather 'Lisa will buy 20 bottles of Coca-Cola with the discount offered by Edeka'. [...] I think it's awesome that companies can have such an unlimited say in what happens in schools. "