Hey Guys, which are the best polytechs at the moment offering true quality training, and how much in depth training did you do. Did you feel you covered all aspects of each block course, I'm talking bout those new 12 week course thingys

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/polytechs-and-unitecs/82/training-which-are-the-best-polytechs-in-nz-to-date/999/

Hi,
I have just recently joined the ranks at Weltec, in Petone. The staff are awesome, all having their own ways of doing things and really helping you with 1-on-1 work. You get thrown straight into metalworking on the first day, I'm into my second week and have my first welding class tomorrow (excited much!) so it's really full on and a lot of fun! They also do ITO courses for the partially trained plumbers. So on that note, Weltec have been a good choice so far:) will keep you posted if you want.

Hi Integrated - some interesting things happening at the moment.  My understanding is you can't choose your training provider - if you sign up through the ITO (which at least 90% + do - the other option being Unitech in Auckland) then you would have to send them to SIT.  I've heard really good things about SIT though.  Training at the moment consists of mostly on job (your responsibility) 12 weeks of block courses (1 week each and meant to be about 17 weeks between) - they are meant to do pre reading and workbook stuff prior to block course and then the distance learning is actually completed at tech and assessed.  This earns them unit standards.  If they haven't done their pre-reading and workbook stuff they are wasting their time as they will take too long to do the assessments at tech.  I am unhappy with the hands on stuff at tech - there simply isn't enough time to do what they should be doing due to having to undertake the distance learning.  Time with tutors is not being used to the best advantage.  This is not the tutors fault - it is what the ITO are contracting them for.  There is less teaching than ever.  The ITO state that distance learning hasn't changed - its all semantics from them.  They are making them complete the distance learning assessments at tech because so many of the lazy little buggers weren't getting it done, so weren't getting on block courses, so weren't completing and so they would go over time and the ITO are now paid on completion of unit standards so their funding would have been down the toilet.

It is time that industry stood up and said what they wanted.  You can go through any group that you might belong to e.g. Master Plumbers, PGD Federation or simply direct to the ITO - but you do need to tell them what you think is good and bad and what you would want to see an apprenticeship look like.  Things need to change, of that I think we are all agreed - this delivery system isn't serving anyone well. 

You'll be pleased to know that Wazza is still at Weltec doing an awesome job, Merv received an award at last year's Master Plumber Conference for services to industry and was congratulated by a number of "young  men" with grey hair that he had trained in years gone by.  He is retired, but still passionate about apprentices. 

The cost of the apprenticeship is a bit of a concern - and the additional costs to employers e.g. the working at heights and confined spaces courses at around $750 plus the first aid which we have always had to pay for.  Still training is exciting and enjoyable - and if you have the work then you should dip your toe back in the water!!!