Miner’s job – one of the most sought-after jobs

KARVINÁ – Thirty-two classrooms, two laboratories for theoretical lessons, and eight specialist classrooms, and furthermore, one laboratory, twenty-one workshops and welder’s school for practical training  are provided by a large school campus of the Secondary School of Technology and Services in Karviná, which will also offer mining branches from the next school year. The last class pupils of elementary schools and their parents could visit all such facilities during the Open School Days, organized by the school principalship on Thursday, 23 October 2008.

In the school building, there are also two gymnasiums, a fitness centre and a playground. The accommodation for 54 non-resident students is provided by the Youth Home in the “Předvoj” Hostel. Practical training is provided to the apprentices in 138 work areas on the  premises of companies and plants, including the Karviná Mine of ČSA Mining Plant and ČSM Mine.

“I think all our classrooms represent a solid standard, and the electrical and welding workshops of the school even exceeds this standard very much,“ Bohuslav Chowaniec, specialist teacher of the Secondary School of Technology and Services provided his evaluation.

At present, almost 1,100 students are preparing for their future jobs at this school. Almost two thirds of them are being educated for technical branches, and the rest of them are preparing for work in the services sector. From the perspective of elementary school leavers, the branches of the fire-fighting equipment machinist and car mechanic rank among the most attractive. In the branch of services, the apprentices show their greatest interest in achieving the Certificate of Apprenticeship in the “Cook/Waiter” branch. Recently, there have been two other branches which have been sought after by young people, more specifically: “Electrician – Mine Operations” and “Mechanical Fitter – Mine Operations” and “Machinist/Fitter – Mine Operations”.

“These branches will not be included in the school’s education programme until the next school year. However already now, we have indicia that they will rank among the most sought-after ones,“ said Vratislav Kolek, the Headmaster of Secondary School of Technology and Services in Karviná. “On 5 September, we participated in the Job Selection in Karviná, and on 18 September in the Profession Olympiad in the Slavia Hall in Havířov. In this event, no schools, but fields of study presented themselves. The interest in specialist miner’s jobs, which we offered together with OKD representatives, was extraordinary.“

Secondary School Arose from Apprentice Centre

In two years, the Secondary School of Technology and Services will celebrate the 60^th anniversary of its activity. It was established in 1950 as an Apprentice Centre of the 1 May Mine in Karviná. Similarly to the Karviná mines, the school has undergone a complex evolution and a number of changes. What does not however change is its mission to prepare young people for their future jobs and life. If you wish to visit it, the next opportunity will be provided in January next year. You will find out the exact date of the Open School Day at the school website: http://www.ssinte-karvina.cz.

(bk)