Right way to learn tricks
SUDHEESH SATHEESH KUMAR
|
Apprenticeship provides valuable work experience for students
|
crucial factor: Training under a senior doctor helps apprentices
Apprenticeship, a model of learning that involves training under the wings of an industry professional, and earning at the same time, has been around since time immemorial. It is considered vital and highly useful in professions ranging from medicine to photography and law to carpentry. While a classroom education may teach the history, law, ethics, methods and basics of a profession, apprenticeship actually prepares the student for the workplace by providing practical training.
The advantages of the model are manifold. Primarily, it allows the student to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical situation. Once the student learns the difference in the success of a solution on paper and in practical application, he/she can be guided by the mentor to improve upon his solution and reduce the chances of failure. Nowhere is this more important than in the field of medicine.
“Asking junior doctors right out of the classroom to treat a patient without supervision can be particularly risky. Faced with a real-life medical situation, they might forget something they learnt from their textbooks. So they have to mandatorily apprentice under the guidance of a senior doctor till they are ready,” says dermatologist Bindu Rani.
By working with the mentor, the protégé learns the numerous tricks of the trade and becomes more equipped to handle real-world problems related to the profession. Sasikumar, a student of photography, agrees. “Photography includes many tricks to substitute light, colour etc., which you might never learn in the classroom,” he says.
Marketing is crucial
Lessons in management and in marketing your skill are included in the apprenticeship process. “In any skilled profession, to be successful, it is important to develop an individual style and market oneself properly. Advertise it properly. Unless this is done, you just remain an average worker,” says Prashant Nair, a wedding videographer. His assistant Nitin adds, “Once you apprentice under a professional, you also learn to set up your own client base and also develop your own set of contacts.” However, one aspect of apprenticeship that sets it apart from other kinds of training such as internship is the remuneration for the services rendered.
Minimum wages have been set for apprentices in the organised sector as per the Apprentices Act of 1961. Even though the wages may differ for different professions, they are heavily compensated for by the experience.
But it's not just the protégés who benefit from apprenticeships. The mentors also profit from the process. Owing to the assistance provided by the apprentices, their work becomes easier.
An electrician, Sukumar, says “Ever since I employed a youth as my apprentice, my work gets finished quicker due to the added assistance. This also enables me to take up more work.” It is, therefore, no wonder that even business magnate Donald Trump is looking to hire apprentices.
Qualifier
Apprenticeship has now become a qualifier to apply for certain jobs. It shows that the candidate has the relevant work experience and the soft skills required for the job. However, while apprenticeships are a way of enhancing one's skills for many, for some, it is the only way to learn a trade. This particularly holds true for people pursuing certain blue-collar jobs and offbeat professions such as DJing, pet grooming and hairstyling.
Since most banks do not provide educational loans for such courses, aspirants are left with no other choice but to pursue apprenticeships. However, this being a slow process, it could take even a year before the protégé is ready to work independently.
Since a mentor can only train a small number of students at a time and since students outnumber mentors, finding a mentor to apprentice with becomes a mammoth task.
To tackle the problem, the HRD Ministry has set up four Boards of Apprentice Training in Mumbai, Kolkata, Kanpur and Chennai.
Both students and employers can register with the Board to find mentors or apprentices.
The apprenticeship model, with its several benefits, is not only a good way to earn while you learn but also an added advantage on the way to hearing “You're hired!”
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Education Plus
