Electrician

Why professional Electrician are urgently needed in Myanmar

The business of electric installations is not without its risk in an environment with heavy rain-falls and floods. Secure installations are relatively expensive and are therefore often neglected or omitted. The training is based on passing on knowledge within the “company”. As em-ployment is often short-term, a lot of knowledge and skills are lost. Consequently new tech-nologies are not promoted enough. Only what is known will be passed on. CVT offers a new, dual educational approach to fill this gap of professional education the electrician sector.

Theoretical Course at CVT

The special training offered by CVT is made up of three parts. Two of these parts are covered by CVT and the third by the company.

The school classes take place once a week. Professional subjects as well as more general subjetcts are taught at CVT:

There are apprentices from all different fields in each class, which facilitates technical exchange and important networking.

Practical Courses at the CVT

The idea of the Practical Training Courses (PTC) is to give the apprentice a basic practical knowledge in all spheres of their profession and to show them how to put theory into practice. The three courses are divided over the 3 years of the apprenticeship and last for two weeks. These are held on CVT’s own premises and include the following main points:

• Course 1: Wood and metal work and simple electrical light fittings.
• Course 2: Household installations, simple control and measuring systems.
• Course 3: Diode systems, measuring technology 2, engine control systems. At the end of each course there is a one day excursion, during which various firms are visited.

“Earn while you learn”: Practical training at the company

The daily work in the firms is where the inputs from the weekly classes at the school are put into practice. At the company, responsible people (In-Company Trainers) make sure the ap-prentices can practice and acquire the knowledge and skills required by their curriculum. In addition, this work gives the apprentices some income which is often the only source of in-come for the families.

Final exams and graduation

The final examination of all school subjects takes place at the end of the three-year training. The finals consists of two parts; an oral and written examination. The apprentices’ practical skills are tested along with English, Myanmar and general knowledge. The theoretical subjects are also part of the examination:

• electrical engineering
• normal and specialised specifications
• specialised drawing
• material and apparatus knowledge

Within 20 hours various installations must be built up and be able to function according to the given layouts and schemas. The apprentices must also be able to find the control system on prepared models and carry out measurements. An oral test makes up a part of the examination program. It takes the form of a dialogue simulating a conversation between client and expert.

Future prospects

Once they have successfully completed their course, apprentices are able to work in a variety of fields, in both domestic and industrial environments. They are often placed in managerial roles, with responsibility for a department or a group, because they have an excellent understanding of the entire working process and the standards required. Depending on their financial situation, some apprentices are even inspired to start their own businesses carrying out installation work and repairs.

Experts from Switzerland

Walter Christen is the careers advisor. He runs additional courses in electrical installation and fitting in the Canton of Solothurn. He is assisted by Thomas Braeutigam, who divides his time between work in Yangon and his role as a vocational teacher at the Commercial College in Uster.

“Large numbers of our graduates are now occupying managerial positions. Some of these now are training apprentices themselves thus passing on this wealth of knowledge to a new generation.” Walter Christen, Expert Electricians

Teachers at CVT:
Teaching the following subjects:

• Theory: material knowledge, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, norms & standards, technical drawing, mathematics
• Practical training courses