ENG-1991 — Page 177

EDUCATION

electrician, mechanical fitter, and mould and die maker. Training boards in conjunction with educational and training institutions organised subsidised training courses to upgrade or update serving employees.

The Engineering Graduate Training Scheme, administered by the VTC, helps engineer- ing students and graduates complete the professional training which will gain them recognition by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers or other professional bodies. In 1991, 60 engineering firms took part in the scheme, which provided 260 training places.

The VTC's Management Development Centre does not itself provide training courses, but conducts research and development projects and promotes management training. The centre's projects include work with owner managers and various entrepreneurial firms, development of learning materials, and activities with management trainers and business executives.

Two statutory authorities operate industrial training schemes in two important sectors. The Clothing Industry Training Authority operates two training centres funded by a levy on the export value of clothing and footwear. In 1991, 8 200 trainees attended courses. The Construction Industry Training Authority operates three training centres funded by a levy on the value of construction works exceeding $1 million. During the year, 3 500 trainees attended courses.

Training in New Technologies

The Precision Tooling Training Centre houses a precision sheet metal processing unit, set up in 1990 with financial and expert technical help from the Japan International Co-operation Agency under an agreement between the governments of Hong Kong and Japan. The unit plays an important part in the transfer of precision sheet metal technology to local industries.

Plans are in hand to establish a New Technology Training Scheme. This will provide matching grants from a special fund to help industrial employees acquire skills in new technologies of benefit to Hong Kong industry.

Apprenticeship Schemes

The Apprenticeship Ordinance governs the training of craftsmen and technicians in 42 designated trades. Anyone aged between 14 and 18 who is employed in such a trade and has not completed an apprenticeship must enter into a contract with the employer. This must be registered with the Director of Apprenticeship, who is the executive director of the VTC. Contracts in respect of other trades, or for apprentices aged over 18, may be registered voluntarily. An apprenticeship normally lasts three to four years, but qualifications earned before the apprenticeship starts, such as completion of junior secondary education in a prevocational school, may lead to exemption from the first year of the apprenticeship.

The Office of the Director of Appenticeship advises and helps the employers of apprentices. Inspectors visit workplaces where apprentices are employed, to ensure that training schemes are properly implemented, help to resolve disputes arising from registered contracts, and ensure that apprentices receive the required technical education on courses at the polytechnics or technical institutes. In 1991, 4 700 contracts were registered. Of these, 920 were in non-designated trades. The contracts covered 4060 craft apprentices, and 640 technician apprentices. By the year's end 9 700 apprentices were being trained.

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