Razvoj in uvedba vajeniške oblike v srednje poklicno izobraževanje v Sloveniji : doktorska disertacija

slovenian

doktorska dela

2023

Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za naravoslovje in matematiko

Apprenticeships had long been established in Slovenia but were abolished, because there was no general consensus among the participants regarding their roles, obligations and implementation. The reintroduction of apprenticeships started in the 2017/18 school year. For some occupations, the school-based and apprenticeship style of education follow the same curriculum. We wanted to know whether the form of education impacts the acquisition of vocational skills and competences as well as the prospects for further education or employment.A longitudinal study compared two groups of students of the same curriculum in one school. The first group (N = 25) was in the apprenticeship style of education (apprentices), and the second (N = 19) was in the school-based style of education (students). We found that students with a better average performance in primary school were enrolled in the apprenticeship style of education, but the differences were not statistically significant as the effect of the group was medium. Students had higher average grades than apprentices in the first, second, and third years. In the third year, the differences were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in the average final exam grades. The comparison groups were relatively small, but the apprentice group accounted for 43.4% of the total enrolment in the school year in Slovenia. In the school-based style of education, both groups were taught by the same teachers, while in employer training, they had different mentors. We find that different styles of education with the same curriculum do not significantly impact the acquired vocational skills and competences.Apprentices believed that the apprenticeship learning style offered more job opportunities, while students believed that the school-based learning style provided better opportunities for further education. Employers in the apprenticeship learning style were more actively involved in designing the open curriculum and the education process.Apprenticeships are not just an additional route to gaining skills for a career: they offer the same opportunities for further education and a faster transition from school to work. Apprentices spent more time in work environments and had more work experience, which is what employers wanted and expected. The apprenticeship learning style requires more cooperation and agreement between those involved, making it more complex to implement. Both learning styles offer equal opportunities for further education. Based on the analysis and the findings, proposals are made to improve the existing apprenticeship learning style.

08.08.2023