Studying and working simultaneously

Choi Myeong-jun, a senior at Changwon Mechanical Technical High School, poses next to a 3D printer at Daeguntech, a cable assembly and machine equipment maker, in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 17. Choi has been working under an apprenticeship program at the company since last year. / Courtesy of Choi Myeong-jun

Students take part in apprenticeship program to acquire job skills

By Chung Hyun-chae

Choi Myeong-jun, 18, is a high school senior whose dream is quite different from that of other students his age who study hard to gain admissions to top-notch universities.

He attends Changwon Mechanical Technical High School in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Instead of preparing for college entrance exams, Choi works as a trainee at Daeguntech, a cable assembly and machine equipment maker, about six kilometers from his high school.

His working at the company is part of a government-initiated apprenticeship training program for vocational high school students.

The Ministry of Education introduced the program in 2014 modeled after similar programs in Switzerland and Germany. The ministry designated Choi’s school as an apprentice-based vocational high school in 2015.

“I want to work at the company where I now work as a trainee after graduating from high school,” said Choi, who will be one of the first graduates of the apprenticeship program.

His dream is to become a 3D printer specialist.

“I have been majoring in machinery at the school. And I have become interested in 3D printer manufacturing, which I believe is one of the most promising industries,” he said.

Choi, who was attending the 2016 Korea Education Fair for Happiness at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 20, showed a miniaturized replica of Cheong Wa Dae that he created using a 3D printer.

He said he has been trying to take advantage of the apprenticeship program in order to study and work at the same time since he was in his second year at the high school.

“I think I’m benefiting from the apprenticeship program as I can start my career sooner in a field that I am interested in,” Choi said.

Asked if he might regret not going to college, he said, “One thing that I hope changes is the deeply-ingrained public perception that students should enter universities immediately after graduating from high school in order to get higher-paying jobs.”

Lim Jong-dae, principal of the vocational high school, called on local companies to actively participate in the apprenticeship program to allow more students to get solid job training and start their careers soon after graduation.

“Cooperation on the part of companies is essential for the success of the apprenticeship programs for high school students,” Lim said.

“In the long run, companies should invest more in nurturing technical experts who are in short supply amid the low birthrate and the rapidly aging population.”

He said the program offers opportunities for students to learn practical job skills from companies which are in partnership with vocational high schools. He also said businesses can use the program to recruit workers.

Jo Jea-hyeon, a second-year student at Incheon Mechanical Technical High School, said he also chose to participate in the program to secure employment right after graduation.

“Witnessing that many college graduates are having difficulties finding jobs, I decided to join the apprenticeship program so that I can start my career as soon as possible,” Jo said.

Kim Hak-yun, 17, another second-year student at the Incheon-based high school, said he wants to succeed professionally, not academically, by finding a suitable career early.

“I gave up going to college and chose vocational high school so I could enter the workforce after graduation because I realized that I was not good at studying,” Kim said. “After entering this high school, I found my talent in machine molding and I enjoyed learning it so much, I got a related certificate.”

Kim brought some machine frames he made at the company where he is working now to the education fair.

“When I become a regular worker, I hope to study industrial design at a college while working,” Kim said.

Like Kim, most students taking part in the apprenticeship program want to obtain college education while working.

Park Min-gyu, 17, a second-grade student at Daejeon Electronic Design High School in Daejeon, said he plans to enter a night college after getting a full-time job.

“I also have a plan to learn Chinese as I heard that this language is frequently used in this industry,” said Park, who works as a trainee at Micronic System, a broadcasting equipment company under the apprentice program.

Currently, vocational high school graduates with more than three years of work experience can apply to some universities under special admissions programs.

Graduates of apprenticeship-based vocational high schools, however, do not have to meet the career requirements when they apply for colleges and universities. This allows them to juggle work and higher education.

The education ministry designated nine schools as apprenticeship-based vocational high schools across the nation in 2015. The number of schools jumped to 60 this year, and the ministry plans to increase the number to more than 200 next year.

The ministry offers on average 170 million won each school per year for the apprentice program, while the Ministry of Employment and Labor provides financial support for companies to cover payment for student trainees.