– I’m looking forward to it. That’s what Synne Melberg answers when news asks her about becoming an apprentice. The 17-year-old still has plenty of time to prepare. She is a student on the hairdressing course at Godalen upper secondary school in Stavanger, and it will not be until after the summer of next year that she will go to work. Synne Melberg is looking forward to going to work. She is not part of the negative statistics for apprentices. She is still a student at upper secondary school and will not start an apprenticeship until next autumn. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – It will be quite a big leap, from school and straight to working life. But I’m looking forward to the apprenticeship, because then I get to do what I want, she says. At the same time, it is far from everyone who is equally prepared and ready to start their professional life, as Melberg says she is. In recent years, companies and teachers have often reported young people who do not master the role of apprentice. Turid Dykesten Gjerdevik is one of those who notices a change among the students. Her opinion is that more teenagers than before are struggling to follow the straight path with two years of school and two years of apprenticeship. Turid Dykesten Gjerdevik is head of department at Godalen upper secondary school in Stavanger. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – They know school, but they don’t know working life. The thing about talking to adults, being with adults. Not having their friends around them can be scary for many, she says. Pointing to the pandemic Dykesten Gjerdevik has worked at Godalen upper secondary school for almost 20 years. She is head of department and believes that the corona pandemic and the change to the absence rule affected the students. The corona pandemic is pointed to as a possible reason for the negative trend. – The corona has probably done a lot to many people. We see that students have challenges in finding an apprenticeship. They find it difficult and often need help, she says. Mads Frantsen, general manager of the Education Office for technology subjects at Haugalandet, shares her opinion. Mads Frantsen is the general manager of the Education Office for technology subjects at Haugalandet. Photo: Thomas Halleland / news – They lack a certain structure and discipline when they enter working life. It’s telephone use, attendance, absence in general that is primarily a source of irritation, says Frantsen. The trend is the same across the country, according to Rogaland county council. – We receive messages from the training offices and municipalities that this is an increased problem, says Catrine Utne Pettersen. She is the head of vocational training in the county and says that the pupils now have a slightly tougher time adapting, that they don’t quite have the codes. Catrine Utne Pettersen is head of vocational training in Rogaland County Municipality. Photo: Marte Skodje / news – I am in contact with other county councils, and the feedback we get is that the apprentices are struggling, that they are not quite settling in and are not coping with the new everyday life, she says. Employing its own coordinators The challenges are so many that Rogaland County Council is now employing its own coordinators at all upper secondary schools. Maria Nunez is working life coordinator at Godalen upper secondary school. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – I think there is a lot of mental illness that is hidden. It is difficult for a young person, I think, to say “I struggle with this, I think this is difficult”. Maria Nunez was employed in one of 15 newly created positions just under a week ago. The aim is to prepare and secure the teenagers even more for working life. – Much good is already being done. We just have to coordinate it and align ourselves so that we can reach more students who are struggling, Sir Nunez.
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Pupils struggle with the transition from vocational subject to apprentice – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
