Why you need apprenticeship
Aug 05, 2008
GHANAIAN Isaac Kwabena is the first winner of the recently-concluded Apprentice Africa reality television series. The sixteen-week show has contestants undertake several tasks. The winner walks away with $200,000 and the opportunity to work under advertising mogul Biodum Shobanjo.
By Carol Kezaabu
GHANAIAN Isaac Kwabena is the first winner of the recently-concluded Apprentice Africa reality television series. The sixteen-week show has contestants undertake several tasks. The winner walks away with $200,000 and the opportunity to work under advertising mogul Biodum Shobanjo.
What is Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a system of learning the skills of a craft from experts in the field by working alongside them. It is an on-the-job training programme where you learn while earning a salary or wage. Many carpenters, construction workers, mechanics, plumbers and chefs acquired their skills working under experts.
Uganda’s education system constantly comes under attack for producing graduates who have a lot of theoretical knowledge but lack practical skills.
Apprenticeship programmes are one way to solve this problem. The Aids Support Organisation (TASO) has a programme where they enroll orphans in vocational schools and industries to train them in various fields. After the training, TASO gives them a tool kit to begin their own business.
Apprenticeships are also called graduate training programmes whereby students are recruited as trainees by organisations and paid while they gain career skills.
Patrick Ngolobi of MTN says their graduates training programme aims at building a talent pool. “If you have unique business operations, you can’t rely on the open job market to get skilled professionals,†he said. Another objective was to contribute to the development of human capital. After training, some trainees are passed on to other organisations if there are no positions for them to fill.
MTN usually takes about five people every year who undergo training for about six months.
All one needs to get onto this programme is a good basic degree. Even if a trainee is not retained at MTN, Ngolobi says it is an automatic ticket to a great job in any other company.
Harry Mwanje, the brand manager of Pilsner Lager, says he joined Uganda Breweries as a trainee after obtaining his degree. Mwanje says the training involves hands-on training and assignment of a mentor to guide the trainees.
Benefits of apprenticeship
You get paid to learn. Mwanje says the programme pays more than most first jobs.
You get a certificate which you can use to get employment in other organisations.
Ngolobi says trainees move to supervisory positions in a short time.
You are taught by experienced professionals.
GHANAIAN Isaac Kwabena is the first winner of the recently-concluded Apprentice Africa reality television series. The sixteen-week show has contestants undertake several tasks. The winner walks away with $200,000 and the opportunity to work under advertising mogul Biodum Shobanjo.
What is Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a system of learning the skills of a craft from experts in the field by working alongside them. It is an on-the-job training programme where you learn while earning a salary or wage. Many carpenters, construction workers, mechanics, plumbers and chefs acquired their skills working under experts.
Uganda’s education system constantly comes under attack for producing graduates who have a lot of theoretical knowledge but lack practical skills.
Apprenticeship programmes are one way to solve this problem. The Aids Support Organisation (TASO) has a programme where they enroll orphans in vocational schools and industries to train them in various fields. After the training, TASO gives them a tool kit to begin their own business.
Apprenticeships are also called graduate training programmes whereby students are recruited as trainees by organisations and paid while they gain career skills.
Patrick Ngolobi of MTN says their graduates training programme aims at building a talent pool. “If you have unique business operations, you can’t rely on the open job market to get skilled professionals,†he said. Another objective was to contribute to the development of human capital. After training, some trainees are passed on to other organisations if there are no positions for them to fill.
MTN usually takes about five people every year who undergo training for about six months.
All one needs to get onto this programme is a good basic degree. Even if a trainee is not retained at MTN, Ngolobi says it is an automatic ticket to a great job in any other company.
Harry Mwanje, the brand manager of Pilsner Lager, says he joined Uganda Breweries as a trainee after obtaining his degree. Mwanje says the training involves hands-on training and assignment of a mentor to guide the trainees.
Benefits of apprenticeship