Work Experience For Selected Pupils

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 10

Work Experience For Selected Pupils

Work experience schemes for selected pupils in classes for backward children have given a good deal of satisfaction in the last few years. These programmes involve pupils in situations they will meet in the business world. Illis creates interest and checks capacity while they are still at school. Such schemes are regarded primarily as part of the child’s education and not purely trade or vocational training. The work situation should be reflected back into the classroom and integrated into the teaching programme. The Government has now agreed to indemnify any employer, to the extent to which ’ he would not otherwise be indemnified (e.g. by a policy of insurance or enactment) for any amount which he may be legally liable to pay for injury to any backward pupil arising out of work experience or damage to property owned by that child. It is expected that this agreement to indemnify employees will remove many difficulties formerly associated with work experience schemes. This means that employers who accept backward pupils for work experience do not now need to be asked to

insure these children against accident, as any legal claim not covered by insurance which an employer may already have or by any enactment, will be met by the Department of Education. Any work experience in which these children are involved must be officially recognised as such. Before participating in the scheme, pupils must have attained the age of 14 years, and under no circumstances should they receive payment for their work. The maximum permissible work period in any one week is one full day. In some cities, assistance to the scheme is given by local after-care associations. These usually include representatives of the education board,

the school, the Vocational Guidance Service, the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Labour, Rotary and other responsible organisations. When after-care societies arrange positions for work experience, the organiser of special classes must still recommend the placement When an after-care society or its equivalent exists, suitable firms may be approached by a subcommittee of the association, consisting of the organiser of special classes and the teachers who best know the children’s abilities. The purpose of the scheme and details of the children’s handicaps and needs are explained to employers, foremen and workmen, who are also invited to send repre-

sentatives to a study group of the Association. In one or two areas these invitations have been readily accepted and have proved to be of great benefit to all concerned. At first children are taken to their jobs by the teacher and introduced to managers and workmen. Later, at the discretion of the school authorities, they are encouraged to make their own way to places of employment to develop greater independence. Members of the committee, or the teacher, continue to check on the children’s movements and to visit regularly all the firms where they are employed. During the course of a year, children may experience a variety of jobs, and their response is noted.