Considering Apprenticeship as a Strategy for Generating Skilled Workers
The apprenticeship program is one of the means private companies use to generate skilled workers for their specific needs despite mismatches between their requirements and the skills possessed by job applicants. A training modality under what are classified as enterprise-based training (others include learnership and on-the-job training), trainees learn by observing and learning from experienced skilled workers inside the company. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director-general Sec. Joel Villanueva recently encouraged private firms to step up their participation in the apprenticeship program as a means of getting workers because "the best place to acquire skills is in the workplace". ( Manila Bulletin , September 3, 2011) Considering apprenticeship as a generator of skilled workers involves several things for the firm. The following are some of them: Are the competencies and skills needed by the firm not available in the present pool o...