Industry backbone of apprenticeships

There is much to be commented on in Barton Hacker’s Friday letter “House bill would boost apprenticeships” extolling the virtues of Ohio’s award-winning apprenticeship system. That system is uniquely positioned to put high-demand, skilled workers on the job in any number of occupational sectors.

The traditional four-year degree pathway for Ohio high school graduates should be reconsidered for many young Ohioans who could directly benefit from an industrysponsored apprenticeship, a topnotch technical education, and a lifelong, highly valued career without crushing debt.

Post-secondary education, including community colleges and apprenticeship, should, and have been, nonpartisan issues for Ohioans of every stripe. What Barton got wrong is the proposed integration of apprenticeship with Ohio’s College Credit Plus System. The language in House Bill 110 is unworkable on any number of fronts. However, the most disturbing overarching principle of HB 110 is that the funding mechanism of apprenticeship dramatically shifts from industry to the state.

What makes apprenticeship such a dynamic and effective workforce-development model is that the entire process is driven by industry. Industry determines the work processes, which then determine the curriculum, which then is documented into registered apprenticeship standards. Industry — not the state — drives the process.

The apprenticeship community must expand apprenticeship opportunities for young Ohioans; industry involvement is critical to the long-term success of the apprentice. Removing the industry funding model from Ohio’s award-winning apprenticeship system creates an unnecessary disconnect from industry, and frankly, taxpayer money earmarked for secondary education should stay with the secondary institutions.

Ohio’s apprenticeship community wants to grow Ohio’s apprenticeship system responsibly, and not on the back of secondary education.

Stephen Lipster Secretary-treasurer Ohio Electrical Training Directors Association Columbus

Steve Garrett Galloway