Well - news from the ITO - fees are increasing - For a 48 month plumbing and gasfitting apprenticeship you will be charged (from 1 April 2012) - $10580.00 (that is $2645 per year, $220.42 per month or $50.87 per week) - and that's not all folks - the ITO are now not going to fund "other health and safety related courses" which in plain speak is, I imagine, the Working at Heights and Confined Spaces.  This will fall to the employer no doubt at a cost of several hundred dollars.  AND just for a bit of extra cost - from 1 January 2012 all text books and standards will NO LONGER be included within the annual fee, but can be purchased through the ITO at discounted rates.

Now more than ever is the time for employers to ditch the ITO and head straight to the Polytecs for a direct contract.  Cut the dragons head off.  This astronomical increase is criminal - and at a time when the service levels have plummeted.  Oh yes, much is being made of the RECORD numbers of apprentices getting through this year, but at least 160 of them have been notifed that they won't be getting their national certificates until they  either do some more assessments or gather evidence from their workplace.  All employers and apprentices who are affected by this need to send a bill to the ITO for the time involved.  We've paid once to have our apprentices trained and we shouldn't have to pay twice.  Also WHO is responsible for dropping the ball,  WHO hasn't kept an eye on the assessment and ensure it met with NZQA's requirements?  WHO failed to provide NZQA with the answers on several occasions when they were investigating the situation at MIT?  Who is going to fall on their sword and take responsibility and accountability?  Are the ITO Board putting safe guards in place to ensure this doesn't happen again?   Shame, shame, shame on them - and how will this helpt the skills shortage?  Not a bit.  Stroke of genius to send out such shitty news two days before we break up for Christmas though.  Shrewdness at its best.


Linkback: http://www.plumbers.co.nz/forum/rant-or-rave/5/who-can-afford-to-be-an-apprentice/931/

Hi everyone

Well it just gets better and better doesn't it.  The courses Jax is referring to are all the OSH courses so you will be looking at about $1,000.00 for the three courses plus text books and standards at $500.00 easy so all up now you will be looking at $12,000.00 plus.  It wasn't that long ago that it was $6,000 and back then we used to get training now we are paying $12,000.00 for assessments.

I'm with Jax on this one, it's time for us to look for alternatives where apprentices actually get trained. I personally feel we should actually bring back proper courses and correspondence and if any says "give them time" I don't know what I'll do. How many times do we have to reinvent the wheel?

Where is the Board that controls the ITO. Who's taking responsibility and who is being held accountable. Remember this is another charitable organisation with a Board. How many of these Board members are on the other failing Boards?  Where is the so called voice of the industry that claim to support 60% of the industry. This is the time they are needed.

If you want to get involved in the rebuilding of our training let me know as this stupidity has to stop and stop now.

Wal

you really have to wonder what the point is really eh?

why would anyone consider an apprenticeship in pgd when it takes 4yrs for a kick off? then longer to get to cert status?

the ONLY benefit gained from serving an apprenticeship is earning as you learn

I did dip arch draught @ 2yrs long for similar cost...          sure the pre-requisites were greater for entry but in reality this is only 1 additional yr at school...

what frikin purpose does the ITO serve anyway? surely there has to be a way around this?  what has happened to the good old time served pathway?

yea 4 years to just become licensed and after four years i still cannot work for myself indenpendantly...i mean this friken trade aint rocket sciense...and still an aditional two needed to gain full qual and then all the headaches to go with it and the heavy hand of the board hanging over you all the time!, im sure there are a hell of a lot of other trades one can get into for a 6 year term and alot better paid as well right off the bat...i dont what idiot would want to become a plumber in this day and age...i did!.

hi guys/Jax, you are right in everything that you say but when you look at the time/costs/ongoing costs(bet they don`t mention them)where is the incentive to put yourself through all the hoops that we know exist? i wish i could be more positive but having "been there ,done that" i am sorry to say that i do not recommend our trades,cheers

Ahh but Aboutgas - you just love it here too much to fly the coop back to Oz.