TECHNICAL TRAINING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18484, 24 August 1934, Page 4

TECHNICAL TRAINING

FOSTERING INTEREST ASSOCIATION’S ATTITUDE APPRENTICE PROBLEM . j (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. As a result of a discussion, as suggested by the Minister of Education, on measures for increasing the attendance at technical schools of students taking industrial courses, the annual conference of . the Technical Education Association yesterday reached the opinion thahJegislation should be enacted, or reviSfd, to enable the Apprenticeship Act to operate more freely, and in such a way that employers would be encouraged to engage apprentices in their trades. It was suggested that the trainee system recently introduced in New South Wales should be investigated by the New Zealand Labor Department. Consideration, it was decided, should also be given to the possibility of having a minimum, instead of a maximum period of apprenticeship, to be followed by a probationary . period,. with a trade- test or examination before recognition as a journeyman was granted. This would encourage students to take longer periods of, training in trade courses at technical __ high schools, and to continue. their 'education at evening classes. In any 7 case, some reduction in the period of apprenticeship should be granted to apprentices who attend a technical high school or technical college for a definite minimum period, and who make satisfactory progress in an appropriate tradecourse before entering a trade. Other methods of fostering attendance recommended were the investigation, by the New Zealand Council oi Educational * Research of the relationship between . apprentice training and technical education ; the adoption of expert advisory committees as has been done by the W ellington Technical College and some others ; more effective-vocational guidance facilities; better equipment in schools; and better provision for trades instructors to reach the highest grade of salary. The conference agreed on the principle of selected teachers from the Dominion travelling abroad for the purpose of observing education methods and developments in. other countries. It was thought that considerable benefit would result, and the opinion was expressed that New; Zealand. was- lagging far behind other countries in the matter.. The point was made that there would be no extra expenditure on the part of the New Zealand Government. All that was desired was the sanction of the Minister of Education for boards to spend a proportion of their funds on the travelling expenses of teachers selected-to go abroad.