Calls for review of electrical trade graduates

Concerns raised by NECA and other industry bodies regarding the level of training given to some electrotechnology apprentices recently led to a formal review of training standards at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).

CIT took over the training of between 250 and 300 electrical apprentices following the closure of the Electroskills training organisation in 2013, when the company failed a compliance audit.

The Vocational Education Inquiry has found that CIT should be forced to review graduates in the wake of ongoing complaints about graduates lacking basic skills and to deliver catch-up or complementary training to address any identified deficiencies.

CIT was accused of resisting concerns and has said that it has a proud record of delivering quality education.

A formal response from the ACT Government is due in August (when the Legislative Assembly next sits), but the inquiry also recommended that CIT should develop a contingency plan for the integration of large student numbers into its courses in the future, to prevent further instances. It was recognised that the unexpected and unplanned nature of the amalgamation had created difficult circumstances which may have led to perceived skill gaps.