XN000022-1983-03-05 — Page 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983

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APPRENTICE TRAINING SEMINAR FOR CAREERS MASTERS

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SOME 120 SECONDARY SCHOOL CAREERS MASTERS WERE GIVEN FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING THROUGH A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE PURPOSE OF THE SEMINAR, HELD AT THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, IS TO ASSIST CAREERS MASTERS TO GATHER INFORMATION RELATING TO APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING WHICH COULD BE PASSED ONTO STUDENTS AS THEY CARRY OUT THEIR COUNSELLING WORK.

SPEAKING AT THE SEMINAR THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MR JACK HAYES SAID: +AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED TECHNICAL MANPOWER, PARTICULARLY CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS, IS MOST IMPORTANT IF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES ARE TO EXPAND AND PROGRESS FURTHER INTO SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTS.+

HE REVEALED THAT OVER 26 000 CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP HAVE BEEN REGISTERED SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IN 1976 AND THAT THERE ARE OVER 10 000 VALID REGISTERED APPRENTICES RECEIVING TRAINING IN SOME 3 100 FIRMS PRESENTLY.

MR HAYES EMPHASISED THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME INCORPORATES BOTH PLANNED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION, DURING WHICH THE APPRENTICES ARE EXPOSED TO INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE AND CONDITIONS, AND ARE MEANINGFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY EMPLOYED.

HE TOLD THE SEMINAR THAT THERE ARE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL GRADUATES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES INCLUDING BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING AND PLASTICS.

APPRENTICES WILL RECEIVE PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COMPLEMENTARY TECHNICAL EDUCATION EITHER AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR THE POLYTECHNIC, HE SAID.

LAST YEAR GOVERNMENT SPENT THROUGH THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH MANAGES THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, ABOUT $40 MILLION ON RECURRENT COST ALONE TO RUN PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSES FOR APPRENTICES.

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