ENG-1992 — Page 162

EDUCATION

Training in New Technology

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.

A new Technology Training Scheme was launched during the year. The scheme will provide matching grants from a special fund to help industrial employees acquire skills in new technologies of benefit to Hong Kong industry.

Retraining for Local Workers

At the request of the government and as part of the employees retraining scheme, the VTC organised specially designed retraining programmes for local workers displaced as a result of economic re-structuring to provide them with opportunities for acquiring new or upgraded skills they need to obtain employment.

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 a craft foundation course in a technical institute, may lead to exemption from the first year of the apprenticeship.

The Office of the Director of Apprenticeship 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. The office also provides a free apprentice placement service to job-seekers who are interested in apprentice training. In 1992, 4 300 contracts were registered. Of these, 850 were in non-designated trades. The contracts covered 3 650 craft apprentices, and 650 technician apprentices. By the year's end 9 000 apprentices were being trained.

Vocational Training for the Disabled

Six skills centres, three run by the VTC and three by voluntary agencies, prepare disabled people for open employment or mainstream technical education and industrial training. The centres provide 840 places, of which 358 are residential.

The VTC also provides support services. The vocational assessment service assesses individual potential and helps those assessed to select a suitable vocational training programme. Internationally recognised test batteries, as well as work samples designed to match local industrial skills profiles, are used. All mildly mentally disabled school leavers attend a one-week vocational assessment programme. An eight-week vocational assessment programme is also operated to provide an in-depth assessment for more complex cases.

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