In my opinion it is not just the electrical fault finding skills that are poor, it is almost everything that they ram into the three years before they are supposed to be fully skilled.

I was going to college on day release for a total of seven years when things were simple, this probably explains why they have to skip so much now. Some students I have come across would struggle to locate a fault on a standard lighting circuit and wouldn't stand a chance on an engine management system but they have had extensive help in producing a good CV and at up-selling themselves.

It may be harsh but I think part of the problem is the quality of the students entering into the trade. It always appears to be the ones who are academically challenged who are then pushed into the apprenticeship schemes when all the good and mediocre children are pushed into university.

Over the years I have had quite a few apprentices but I now don't bother because there is so little reward (and I don't mean financial) and to be really truthful this could also be said for some of the training I have done myself recently. For example, my air con training had an open book exam and at college that doesn't even have OFN test equipment which left me thinking that was another waste of time and money for a certificate that nobody ever checks anyway. I would have liked to have felt "that was a challenge, an achievement and very worthwhile" and if I had to employ somebody that had done the same course I could feel that they actually had put some effort into getting that qualification.

There are many questions on this subject which I do feel passionate about and when you look at the average age of the people on these forums, doing the extra training courses or attending IMI meetings etc something has gone wrong somewhere.

I have no idea how the college is financed for it's students, do they get paid per student regardless of the course results or per student that actually gains a pass? How reliable are the assessors in recording true life training or is this just another paper trail that has to be completed regardless?

If technician licensing became mandatory, should a student be expected to come out of training at a standard equivalent to ATA and be able to go straight onto the professional register? If so, do you consider they are at that standard now?


Graham