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Special care will be given to teaching students the functioning of different parts of the chassis; the location of faults; and the making of rapid, accurate, and lasting repairs.
At the same time care will be taken to ensure that the student on completing his course will be able to take up any appointment in the group of industries classi- fied as Light Engineering."
The keeping of time sheets, stores, etc., will fit the youth for a position of responsibility in due course.
The financial reward for proficiency would appear to be about $40 per month upwards.
(c) Part Time (Lecture) Courses.-These courses are intended for youths who are serving an apprenticeship with reliable firms by day, and whose need lies rather in instruction in the underlying principles of their respective trades than in addi- tional practice at these trades.
Certain of the Technical Institute classes will be included under these courses. For example, when complete, the Trade School will provide adequate housing, and, more important, adequate equipment for instruction in Electrical Engineering, Building Construction, etc.
Provision will be made for boys who have completed the Junior course, who are serving apprenticeships with the Dock Companies, etc., to continue their and training without interruption at these courses. stance would be the Ordinary National Certificate of the Board of Education, The standard aimed at in this in- England, a channel thus being prepared whereby lack of financial means would not prevent a good boy from qualifying to go to sea.
These courses would, in the main, be held as evening classes but it is expected that certain Dockyard apprentices will be released two half days per week to con- tinue their education.
The initial courses under this heading will be:--
Building Construction.
Electrical Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering.
(d) Part Time (Trade) Courses.-These courses are proposed as a means of giving the apprentice in the small Chinese workshops, especially in the Engineering, Building, and allied Trades, the opportunity of acquiring a higher degree of manual skill at his trade, and at the same time of learning to read an engineer's or architect's drawing. Entry would be strictly confined to bona-fide apprentices.
It is unlikely that every course could be run each year, but the more popular courses could be selected from :-
Carpentry; Bricklaying and Masonry; Reinforced Concrete; Plumbing and Gas- fitting; Electrical Wiring; Fitting and Turning; Automobile Repair, etc.
(e) Minor Courses.-These would be full time day courses of comparatively short duration, say, six to twelve months. They would not be in constant opera- tion, but would be held from time to time as occasion demanded. Students of these courses could probably be combined with classes in the Senior Courses for certain subjects. It is intended that these courses should reach a higher standard than the Part Time Courses, and would include a varying proportion of lecture to shop work.
,,
It is proposed that a special effort be made to induce small employers to send their apprentices for a "Minor Course ticeship; by this means the standard of skill would undoubtedly be greatly raised.
in Trade work as part of their appren-
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These courses would he particularly suitable for preparation for the Examina- tions of the Sanitary Institute; and should the policy of appointing Chinese Sanitary Inspectors be continued, these should certainly pass through a course in Building Construction, Drainage, and Sanitary Science, the equipment for which will be available in the Trade School. Courses such as repair of wireless receiving sets, acetylene welding, and similar subjects requiring only small capital outlay on equip- ment are specially suitable for treatment as minor courses.
It is not proposed to set out a list of possible courses at present; in the main they will follow the Part Time Programme, but aiming at a higher standard.
(5) SELECTION OF STUDENTS,
The method of selecting students will differ for each of the courses proposed.
Junior Course:-As already shown, any entrance examination of a literary nature would militate against the special objects of the course. The policy of selecting strong intelligent youths with an industrial connection would seem to be fully justifying itself. Further investigation of the methods of working in the various shipyards shows that the major part of the work is done by small contractors, and as the sons of these contractors are brought up to step into their father's shoes it would seem that improvement in general workmanship will best result by concentrating on these youths even more than at present.
Senior Course-Marine Engineering. An entrance examination should if pos- sible be held for this course, equal weight being given to General Education, Per- sonality and Physical Condition.
Building-Selection will be made by interview from candidates who are pre- pared to become indentured to a reputable firm of builders.
It is proposed to reserve a few places for the sons of building foremen in the Public Works Department.
Automobile Repair :-Selection will be by interview and physical examination, some weight being attached to previous school records.
Part Time Courses :-Selection by interview and recommendation of the can- didate's employer. Every endeavour will be made to find room for all applicants.
Minor Courses:-No general method of selections can be stated.
(6) POSSIBLE LINES OF EXPANSION,
The line along which expansion can most profitably take place is the provision of additional Senior Courses.
Several have already been suggested, viz.,
Electrical Fitting.
Wireless Operation. Architecture.
The course
Electrical Fitting:-This course would require to follow Year I, of the Auto- mobile Repair Course, specialising taking place in Years II and III. would include operation, inspection and repair of electrical machinery with special reference to Marine Installations. There are definite openings in this line, a sea going electrician earning about $100 per month. The reason for deferring this course is that the plant required is specialised and can best be organized when the more general courses are in operation.
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