What can Competenz do to increase the length of block courses to improve apprentices’ learning outcomes?

The issue of block course length needs to balance the financial cost to the employer and the difficulties some employers experience in releasing their apprentices for block courses, and the need for the course to be long enough to provide apprentices with underpinning knowledge.  

Block course length is also determined by the level of government funding. We don’t anticipate an increase in government funding in the foreseeable future, and believe that increasing the length of block courses at employers’ expense would reduce the number of apprentices in training – exacerbating the shortage of qualified trades people.