TECHNICAL TRAINING OF APPRENTICES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 6

TECHNICAL TRAINING OF APPRENTICES

Daytime Teaching Wanted EVIDENCE BY COLLEGE BOARD The adoption of the principle that apprenticeship be between an industry and a young person, and that apprenticeship with an individual as employer be not continued, was urged in the submissions of the Wellington Technical College Board of Managers to the commission ot inquiry on pre-vocationaj and vocational education and on matters pertaining to apprenticeship at yesterday's sitting in Wellington. The principle was also urged by representatives of the furniture and plastering trades on the previous day. Employers’ representatives expressed doubt us to the practicability of the principle. Advocates for the principle suggested power being inVbsted in a legal authority to transfer apprentices within the industry to ensure continuity of employment, ami that each must within the industry carry its share of the cost and of the responsibility. The board also recommended that the organization of apprentice training between industry aud education provide tor all training to be done during the day and that the time allotted to technical education be not less than one full working day jn each week. There was considerable discussion on this issue, questions raised relating to accommodation and staffs, whether such would not tend to lack of initiative among young persons, and the degree of liability of the employer or the industry. Mr. Justice Tyndall presided. Members of the commission were - 'unanimous in praise of the report as a most helpful document. It was presented on behalf of the Technical College Board by Mr. W, A, Fox. a board member. The report reviewed the training activities of the college. The effectiveness of the work was limited, however, and to overcome this the commission’s attention was drawn to shortages of skilled staff, the high ratio of students to teachers, and the need f°r more modern equipment. •It was recommended (1) that industry be asked tbrtfigh their national organizations to co-operate with the Education Department iu locating men with qualification? that made them suitable for instructing in technical subjects, and that the Education Department be asked to devise a system of training them in the art of teaching so that a reserve of teaching power be available for both fulltime and for part-time work in technical schools; (2) that the Education Department reduce the present teacher-to-student ratio for the technical high school and for evening classes to a basis which would prevent the sacrifice of efficient instruction in junior classes. Other matters urged for consideration were apprentice recruitment, educational pre-requisites to apprenticeship, and the co-ordination of industrial and technical training for apprenticeship. It was pointed out that among apprentices the educational standard on enrolment varied from standard 3, primary school, to five years of secondary education, There was a considerable range of educational attainment in each of the trades, indicating that there was no settled trade policy upon educational pre-requisites for admission.

The co-ordination of technical and Industrial training was urged on a national basis to ensure no repetition of the erratic supply of skilled labour due to economic reasons. The board recommended that each industry appoint a Dominion Apprenticeship Control Committee, and that local apprenticeship committees function as co-ordinating bodies between the apprentice and the training units both educational and industrial, and maintain contact with the Dominion committee. Dealing with the question of apprenticeship to industry,, the report defined industry as an association representative of the personnel of both management and workers of firms, trades, and manufacturers engaged in similar productive occupations. It was considered this was an acceptance of the fact that the whole of the personnel of a productive occupation was interested in the maintenance of the highest standards of production within that occupation, Evidence was also submitted by Mr. R. J. Jackson, representing the Wellington Drawing Office.

Evidence will be heard today and witbipg the next few days from the bootrepairing trade, plumbing trade, electric power boards supply, Wellington Carpenters and Joiners' Union, Technical Education Association, Wellington Institute of Electricians and the Hutt Valley Master Builders’ Association.

“We understand that a full case has been prepared by the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, and this should cover difficulties such as are being experienced by members of this chamber,” said the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. F. Wilson, at this week’s meeting, when referring to representations that are naw being made to the commission of inquiry set up to investigate apprenticeship legislation.