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(d) Part Time (Trade) Courses*, which provide additional practical instruction in
the actual trade followed by the student by day.
(e) Minor Courses, which give a short, full time day course of training in
vocations which do not require a full apprenticeship.
Of these, a Junior Course (a) is at present in operation at the Junior Technical School, and a first course for Dockyard apprentices (e) will be opened in the evening at the Junior Technical School in January, 1935; a first part-time trade course (d) is in operation in the Junior Technical School under the title "Carpentry Class "; and various classes at present under the Technical Institute will be grouped under (c).
It is proposed to commence further courses in each category immediately the Trade School building is complete and equipped.
(4) DETAILS OF COURSES PROPOSED.
It is proposed to commence with the following courses :—
(a) Junior Course. This is held entirely within the Junior Technical School. The age of entry is 13-14, and the duration of the course is three years. The subjects taught are English, Arithmetic, Elementary Mathematics, Wood- working, Machine Drawing, and the Elements of Engineering Science.
Owing to the great difficulties which lack of primary education imposes on students, a preliminary year covering Chinese, English, and Arithmetic will be in operation for badly educated candidates as from January, 1935. Age of admission to preliminary year 12-13.
(b) Senior Courses.
Marine Engineering.
Building.
Automobile Repair.
Marine Engineering This course will provide the most attractive means of introducing the well educated sons of the "White Collar" classes to remunerative positions in mechanical occupations.
The course will be so organised as to qualify for recognition as an approved course under the Board of Trade Regulations. Students attending the course would, after recognition by the Board of Trade, be exempted from a certain period of ap- prenticeship. Usually 3 months' tuition counts as 2 months' apprenticeship, with a maximum allowance of 2 years for a 3 years' course. The minimum apprentice- ship acceptable to the Board of Trade is 4 years, so that successful students would require to serve only 2 to 24 years in the shops.
The course would consist of four hours every morning in the various shops- fitting, turning, electrical, smithwork, etc., the afternoons being devoted to the subjects required for a Second Class Board of Trade Certificate in Marine Engineer- ing.
sion.
Students would require to have a reasonable knowledge of English on admis-
The age of admission would be about 16 years, the students' course of training being as follows:-
Age 16 -19
Trade School.
19-21 Apprenticeship with Dock Co. with evening classes. 214-23 At sea as junior watch keeper at $100 per month. 23 -234 Possibly six months' revision of theoretical subjects.
234 Sit for Second Class Board of Trade Certificate.
On passing, placed on scale leading to about $300 per month with officer's rank.
*These are mainly evening classes.
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 Their Trade School Sub-Committee have training at the earliest possible date.
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.
44.
7 weeks.
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.
Automobile Repair Trade :-This trade offers the best opportunity for the Local 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.
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