The school year has already started and the first-year trainees – new students of the vocational school of Zespół Szkół Technicznych in Tarnowo Podgórne have already got acquainted with the production halls of Balma.
The school year has already started and the first-year trainees – new students of the vocational school of Zespół Szkół Technicznych in Tarnowo Podgórne have already got acquainted with the production halls of Balma. This is the second year of Balma’s holding the patronage of the carpentry class in the school in Tarnowo Podgórne. That anniversary presents itself a great opportunity to come to some conclusions. The opinions are the same: both FM Balma bosses and company intern mentors as well as the students themselves have been extremely satisfied with the results. The concept of the school which functions as a joint model developed by the local self-government and local entrepreneurs has turned out to be successful.
The vocational schooling in Poland has been restoring its former solid position nowadays. After many years of disrespect, the significance of good vocational education which will effectively prepare young people to take up jobs in modern plants has been acknowledged. Factories and companies providing various services are becoming more and more modern, they often have advanced equipment which requires specific skills and expertise. In places like these there is no room for unskilled workers anymore.
It has been well known that starting up Zespół Szkół Technicznych in Tarnowo Podgórne (the borough in which numerous plants have been established) will be an excellent idea. Before the first recruitment for the 2020/2021 school year was announced, many meetings and discussions had taken place. The opinions of the local entrepreneurs had mattered a lot back then.
BALMA, which has been producing office furniture in Tarnowo Podgórne since 1995, was in fact one of the most determined representatives of the local business that was interested in investing in young people to help them become successful workers. BALMA held patronage of the carpentry class in the vocational school of the first degree. As a result, trainees started appearing in our company.
Michał Balcerkiewicz, the CEO of BALMA, says: Thinking ahead, it will be for us the best form of investing in our future staff. Thanks to ensuring learning on the job, holding internship programmes, and, ultimately, thanks to ensuring workplaces. We are very pleased to see the commitment of our students for who DIY changes into passion and creates an opportunity to develop professionally”.
The students who had their first internships in September at BALMA declare their eagerness and willingness to enter ”the next level” thanks to the expertise they have gained. One of the first-year students explains: ”I have chosen the carpenting profile of my class because since I can only remember I was interested in such things. I even tried to make some furniture pieces at home myself, but I didn’t have the right skills.”
The second-year students (the class which that last year inaugurated the opening of the school) spend three days a week in the plant learning on the job. The first-year students spend two days a week. ”Obviously, first they all learn basics so that they could perform more serious tasks later on. Yet, they face at the very start the tough issues, non-standard topics which require much expertise. They observe how experienced workers tackle these problems - explains Mariusz Majchrzak, the carpentry master at BALMA. He adds that while having to be confronted with the constant evolution of materials and technologies, the close contact between trainees with the infrastructure of a modern plant is a truly valuable asset.
The carpentry master starts listing all the names and functions of modern machines and devices: CNC lathes, BHT and BHX through-feed drilling machines, and IMA laser binder. And at the same time he assures that the older students who will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills will be able to work as assistants to operators. And that will be an ideal preparation for the vocational examination which the students need to take after completing three years in their vocational school.
The internship at BALMA, which specialises in manufacturing modern designer office furniture, is also an opportunity to get to know new technical solutions. ”Our interns learn crimping, assembly and packing furniture pieces. They get familiar with new technologies, especially when it comes to fittings: hinges, roller guides, and drawer solutions. They acquire the knowledge mostly from our workers, who eagerly share their experience with them.” – says another BALMA specialist -Tomasz Kozłowicz – the assembly master. All the students confirm that they are treated in a very cordial, even friendly manner, by the experienced workers of BALMA. That attitude seems quite logical – part of the today’s teenagers who attend the vocational school will definitely take up jobs in our company and become part of the BALMA staff in a few years’ time and then will working alongside with their present mentors. Tomasz Kozłowicz admires the students’ (even the beginners’) extraordinary willingness to work and their interest in the jobs performed. ”That is what matters here most.” – he concludes.
The last months with the organisational difficulties resulting from the restrictions connected with the coronavirus pandemic have not been easy on the education system. And for the vocational education, which is based on internship programmes, in particular. Fortunately, we have managed to solve the problems and we do hope that there will be no more obstacles to interfere with the effective vocational learning. ”We care about the profession of the carpenter. However, in the present times, to many people, especially the young ones, this job is not a prestigious one anymore. We are going to do our best to change that stereotypical thinking.” – explains the CEO of BALMA.
From what we could see on the example of the first – and second-year interns of the vocational school of Zespół Szkół Technicznych in Tarnowo Podgórne, the future looks quite optimistic. Those students do not follow the stereotypical thinking. What we need to do right now is to make the younger students realise the prestige of their vocation and their vocational education.