Extraordinary interest in the mining profession displayed by pupils at Presentation Event

KARVINÁ (15.9.2008) – Mum, dad, I'm gonna become an apprentice miner! For OKD! Judging from the ninth-graders' interest in the apprenticeship offers in the professions of U/G mechanic or U/G electrician for mining operations as displayed at the „Choose your profession“ presentation event, this might be the kind of reactions that can be expected to be heard in family discussions in the Karviná district. Hundreds of pupils, but also of their teachers or instructors, made their stop at the stall of Secondary School of Technology and Services, which will be engaged in preparing new workers for the OKD mines.

„The interest in vocational training is unprecedented, beyond any expectations,“ said Vladimír Tomaňa, who is a training and adaptation specialist from Karviná Mine. At the Technology and Services School's stall in the main square of Fryštát on 5 September, he was providing well-founded information on the various apprenticeship studies and handing out OKD prospectuses.

„All this went like hotcakes. The boys were keen to learn about the motivation elements, the standard of education offered, and what outlooks there might be for them,“ Tomaňa stated. Those interested received an assurance that while the three-year „mining“ professions do not require any admission exams, they offer OKD scholarships worth 36 thousand korunas (thirty thousand during the apprenticeship period).

„What about the curricula? They'll be getting instruction mainly in technical subjects. Mining, mining machinery and equipment, electric equipment for mines, safety… Even the languages, either English or German,“ added Tomaňa. The Secondary School of Technology and Services at Karviná, which as the first and only school in the country will re-launch Czech apprenticeship-type vocational training specializing in mining beginning as of the school year 2009/2010, is preparing an „Open Door Event“ – to be held on 23 October, from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m.

The „Choose your profession“ event already held at Karviná-Fryštát has met with a positive response within the OKD. „Organization was perfect and the event fulfilled its purpose, just as was envisaged. Namely, to launch a campaign, with a one-year lead time, focused on apprenticeships in new professions relating to the mining operations.  We are interested in recruiting sixty apprentices, and we'll do our utmost to attract young people to studies in the mining professions,“ said OKD's Deputy Director of Finance and Personnel, Libor Dűrrer.

The fact that apprenticeships in mining professions re-emerge in Karviná district is a turning point in respect of our present society's notions about mining and the related professions. „By launching education and training for U/G mechanics and U/G electricians we evince the long-term outlooks of work in mining,“ underlined Dűrrer. On top of the scholarships made available to pupils, this also underlines the pledge of a recruitment bonus for those who will have passed the apprenticeship training, on commencement of their employment at the mine.

Radek Lukša