But what is clear is that Vukile, 27, who left Zimbabwe in 2002 to pursue his dream of a career in aeronautical engineering is thrilled by the skill he has acquired. Upon receiving the Apprentice of the Year recognition he said: “I feel privileged to have gone through the apprenticeship scheme; it has taught me so much.”
The practice of apprenticeship has a long history. In the UK it dates back to the 12th century and was flourishing in the 14th. The parents would agree conditions with with a master craftsman which would bind their child for 59 years (e.g. from age 14 to 21).
They would pay a premium to the craftsman and the contract would be recorded in an indenture. In 1563, a law was passed to regulate the apprenticeship system, forbidding anyone from practising a trade or craft without first serving a 7-year period as an apprentice.
The practice of learning a skill from our elders is, of course, as old as history. But in our age we are not always taking time to really learn. We think we know it all in an instant. I met a man last week who I knew as a skilled printer. How had he learnt his trade? At the Polytecnic? No, he was an apprentice for five years to a master craftesman who hammered into him ideals of perfection in printing. Five years! The craftesmans word was law and there were no arguments or excuses.
The craftesman, or journeyman, wanted the apprentice to shine at his work and if possible be a better craftesman than himself. The Poly has its place. Some theory is needed but the work is learnt the hard way; by doing.
I was thinking of this as yet again we have problems with plumbing. You ask someone to fix it. He comes but a month or two down the line you have to call him again. We talk about the brain drain and our Dunamis seeking skills elsewhere but it leaves us with a dearth of craftesmen right now.
To fill in a pothole you might think is the simplest thing in the world. It isnt. The way we do is to leave the road as bumpy as it was before and pothole soon reappears. Currently we have telephone wires and poles down all over the place creating all sorts of hazards. Does anyone care? Do our craftesmen have pride in their work? We are building on sand.
Post published in: Opinions