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Building-Organisation of a course in Building is greatly helped by the exist- ence of the Building Contractors' Association. This body, realising the value of the training offered, has already offered to assist in making it possible to commence training at the earliest possible date. Their Trade School Sub-Committee have already agreed to a part-time apprenticeship system, whereby time spent on the Building Course will count as apprenticeship.
All students will, before enrolment, be required to become apprenticed to an ap proved firm of builders, as without the practical training on buildings, the School course would be comparatively useless.
The general building course will ensure that each student will:
(I) Learn the Carpenter's trade thoroughly,
(II) Learn sufficient of drainage, setting out, brickwork, concrete work, plumb-
ing, and electrical wiring trades for purposes of supervision.
(III) Learn sufficient Building Construction to be able to work off an architect's
drawing.
(IV) Learn the elements of preparing bills of quantities, estimates, etc.
(V) Learn the elements of Building Geometry.
On the Works the Masters will arrange to give students the chance of getting as much practical experience as possible. A systematic course of practical experi- ence will no doubt be arranged.
The following time table has been provisionally arranged.
Duration of Course
School Week
Hours per week
Summer Vacation
Chinese New Year
Work on Buildings
3 years.
5 days.
7 weeks.
44.
7 weeks.
13 weeks per year.
The complete apprenticeship will be 3 years, arranged as follows:-
Works Time
School Time
65 weeks.
114 weeks.
On completion of apprenticeship, students should be ready to take up junior positions of responsibility under a contractor, and should have a sound knowledge of building principles and practice.
The financial possibilities are not easily estimated, but it seems impossible for a successful student to fail to earn $100 per month as his practical experience develops.
Local
Automobile Repair Trade :-This trade offers the best opportunity for the partially educated youth to qualify for a reasonably remunerative post. mechanics are in general quite without any knowledge of the principles of fitting, and this, combined with the slovenly apprenticeship which they serve, automatically produces the careless workmanship which is characteristic of the local garage.
The course proposed will offer an apprenticeship of 3 years, entirely within the School, and will include careful tuition in the various trades necessary for auto- mobile repair. These will include fitting, turning, smithwork, brazing, copper-smithing, electrical fitting, etc.; a knowledge of engineer's drawings and ability to make a hand sketch will be regarded as essential.