The distinction between Realschule and Gymnasium is whether the student will learn a trade or go on to university.
Both can learn technical skills, the person from the Gymnasium can become an engineer and the person from the Realschule can become a tradesman.
Besides that I think a recent change in German culture, correlating with a moderate decline in the importance of German engineering firms, has been to look down on all kinds of technical work. General social work, preferably working directly for the government, is now the in vogue field.
Both can learn technical skills, the person from the Gymnasium can become an engineer and the person from the Realschule can become a tradesman.
Besides that I think a recent change in German culture, correlating with a moderate decline in the importance of German engineering firms, has been to look down on all kinds of technical work. General social work, preferably working directly for the government, is now the in vogue field.