Education/training
Commitment to apprenticeshipA new action group that will identify barriers to apprenticeship and build on successful programs is another step on the path to meeting the demand for skilled tradespeople, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities reports. LINDA WHITE |
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 [ 2005-09-28 ] |
Build on momentum
"Apprenticeships are enormously important, not only to the individuals pursuing them, but to the future prosperity of the economy," Minister Chris Bentley says. "We know right now we have needs in the trades ... Those needs are going to grow and will accelerate because of the aging of our society."
The action group will include employers, labour representatives, educators and trainers. It is designed to complement the work already being done by industry advisory committees. "I hope to build on the momentum that's out there already," Bentley says in an interview. "I'm interested in clear, practical advice from people who are already plugged in."
He wants a number of issues identified when the group begins meeting in October. "Are there gaps in the system? You can have islands of excellence, but are there gaps and how do we bridge those gaps? How can the system evolve so it can meet the demands of our society?"
Bentley promises to act on recommendations immediately. "It will be evolutionary ... I'm not going to wait until the end of the process to act on (recommendations). I will grab ideas and move on them as quickly as possible."
Overcoming outdated views of the trades is key to meeting the demand for apprentices. "For many years we asked our children to concentrate on office jobs, particularly computer jobs," Bentley says. "In doing that, we tended to downplay the importance of skilled trades. We inadvertently denied many the opportunity to consider the trades ... and didn't pay attention to how skilled trades were evolving."
The government has implemented an Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit to encourage more employers to hire and train apprentices. "It does cost money for an employer to take on someone who is not a journeyperson," Bentley says.
"They are taken on at lower wage rates and they are enormously energetic. This tax credit removes some of the barriers and provides a direct incentive to get involved ... Some employers are enthusiastic (about hiring apprentices) ... but others just want to enjoy the benefits of training. If we persist in that approach, we will all be the losers."
The demand for skilled tradespeople is global and certification in a trade "is a passport to take you around the world," Bentley says. "It's not just a duty, but in our own self interests (to train apprentices). I want to get the message out to employers to use (the tax credit) or lose it."
The McGuinty government has also created 1,000 skilled-trades training spaces under the Co-Op Diploma Apprenticeship Program, which allows a student to earn a college diploma while training as an apprentice. It was launched last year in five trades: cook, general machinist, tool and die maker, and machine tool builder integrator.
Beginning this fall, the program was available in additional trades: automotive service/motive power technician, heavy-duty equipment/motive power technician, industrial mechanic millwright/manufacturing engineering technician and truck and coach/motive power technician.
"It recognizes that we have to be more flexible in our approach," Bentley says. "It recognizes that students may want to access apprenticeships in the traditional way or exercise their options so they have a diploma behind them if they need it. You will see more and more attempts by government to be as flexible as possible (and allow students) to enhance skills by different routes."
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QUICK FACTS
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has committed to increasing the number of new apprentices by 7,000 to a total of 26,000 each year by 2007-2008. Among the initiatives the government has introduced:
- An Apprenticeship Training Scholarship and Employer Signing Bonus to support training and employment for youth who have left school but require academic upgrading to be eligible for an apprenticeship.
- Increased funding for apprenticeship classroom training.
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