Vocational High Schools Apprenticeship Program, in Greece: Application, Recent Facts and Views

Abstract

Apprenticeship in Greek vocational high schools started as a pilot program in 2017. The number of apprentices is gradually increasing, Greece followed the dual German apprenticeship system, when the students complete successfully their studies obtaining a degree of level 5, according to the European Qualifications Framework. The purpose of the project was to capture the views and experience of apprentices and employers regarding their involvement with the above apprenticeship program, during the period 2020-2021. Structured questionnaires were appropriately used and were completed by 622 apprentices and 265 employers. Factor analysis reduced the variables and was followed by further investigation with chi-square. To test the linear relationship between the variables of the research queries, the Pearson correlation coefficient was applied. Finally, by using the Mann-Whitney (U-test), a significant difference between the apprentices’ and the employers’ responses was found. Main Results: 89% of the apprentices and 78.9% of employers were very satisfied with their participation in the apprenticeship program. 71% of apprentices and 81.5% of employers were very satisfied with the overall quality of the apprenticeship program. Conclusions: The majority of apprentices and employers seemed satisfied regarding the apprenticeship program quality. The knowledge and skills were acquired by the students during the apprenticeship which help them to gain a place in the labor market. Hosting companies provided the appropriate equipment; all safety regulations and the employees who trained the apprentices had the necessary qualifications in the same or related subject.