22 November 2008
Tradies still need school
1 September 2006
By Dyani Baggenstos: Te Waha Nui Online
Trade apprenticeships seem very appealing to those wanting to leave school early. But an industry training member warns restless students should think twice, Te Waha Nui reports.
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Photo: Dyani Baggenstos
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Students wanting to leave school for trades apprenticeships should think twice before doing so, according to a leading recruitment campaigner.
Peter Reilly, who works for the industry training organisation representing plumbers, sees his role as promoting good career choices to parents and students around New Zealand.
He urges caution for students wanting to leave school early.
“I think it’s important students get a good grounding before going off to complete an apprenticeship,” he says. “Everyone is different so it comes back to the individual, but generally employers today expect a high level of knowledge and maturity when taking on board an apprentice.”
Reilly says it is important to get across to students that school is not a waste of time.
“The big thing students have to remember is that quite a few employers are wary of 15-year-olds straight out of school,” he says. “Most expect at least level one NCEA and it’s recommended throughout most trading industries that they get level two as well.”
Jeremy Ellwood, owner of Auckland company Ellwood Plumbing Limited, left school at 15 to do his plumbing apprenticeship. He says doing an apprenticeship was harder than most people might think.
“I chose to do a plumbing apprenticeship because it was more suited to the way I thought,” he says. “It doesn’t mean you don’t use your brain, it just means your thinking process is more practically inclined.”
At 18, Ellwood aimed to have his own business by 25 and he achieved this two years ago. He says he did not want to leave school early but nothing practical was offered to him.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t like school,” he says. “I just wanted to be outside constructing stuff and there weren’t any opportunities at school to gain experience in those skills.”
Dr Stuart Middleton, from the Manukau Institute of Technology, says too many students stay at school studying a curriculum that is unduly influenced by those going on to university.
“When a student has decided on their future they should stay at school only if it will be of benefit to do that,” he says.
“I firmly believe students should have a transferable education and training allowance up to the end of a level three or four qualification, regardless of where that qualification is to be gained.”
However, Reilly says secondary education today also includes practical subjects to prepare students for a working environment. It is not just about trying to get as many students through the system as possible.
“I go into schools and talk to both teachers and students, and many schools in the country do offer students opportunities to advance practically while still at school,” he says.
“Whether it be from woodwork to schools helping organise work experience in the holidays, to getting a tailor-made programme set up for students; the students’ best interests are at heart.”
A Secondary Schools Association spokesperson says schools want students to excel outside of school life, no matter what their talent.
“Maturity is also a big thing. At 17 you can bring a lot more to a working environment than you could at 15.”
Reilly says it comes down to the individual.
“Many employers will ring schools to find out about a student they are thinking of taking on, so it is important to have a good attitude towards school.”
He says there is strong demand for tradespeople. “Students have to realise that most employers want to take on trainees with experience across the board.”
He says it’s important to get that grounding both physically, mentally and socially while still at school as no one wants to face unemployment straight out of school.
Ellwood found there was more to his trade than he first thought. “I had a mission to get out of school as soon as I could,” he says. “But it wasn’t easy leaving so young and many people have this idea that tradesmen don’t have to use their brains as much.”
He found the hardest part was working towards getting his plumbing certificates at a young age. “I think that schools definitely do have a vested interest in helping students of all sorts, it’s not just about trying to keep them there as long as possible.”
“I definitely think an extra two years staying at school can do wonders for people wanting to go into a trade,” he says. “Because once you’re out into the work place things are nearly always tougher than they seem.”
