The Importance of Human Capacity Building
Capacity building is the bedrock of all developed nations, it simply entails creating systems and policies where the older generation will train the younger generation in their chosen area of influence, be it leadership, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship just to mention a few. We can never get it wrong if the right model is put in place. The developed nations do not have as many natural resources as the undeveloped or developing nations. They leverage the human resources required to transform natural resources into finished goods.
In my years of practicing as an automobile service technician, one major concern I have had to deal with is employee turn over. At some point, I thought the workshop owners were the problem. Workshop owners blame it on the employees but after critical research on the subject matter, I discovered that neither the workshop owners nor the employees were the problem. The main challenge was the apprenticeship system in practice. Our apprenticeship system builds the trainees to become job seekers for life rather than trainers, the same situation occurs in our formal education system.
An apprentice, mentee or trainee should be trained to take over from his master, although that is not the case in this part of the world. This incomplete training started way back when automobile manufacturing companies trained employees to fix just their brands, making them feel incapable of fixing other brands. That is why you hear some technicians of old say that they are a specialist of a brand.
The 21st-century technician can fix all brands because all repairs follow the same principle. Principles are laws that affect the functionality of a system. They are inherent in the creation of that system and if followed, success is guaranteed. In other words, all engines operate under the same principle. They could either be two strokes or four strokes configuration. This configuration ensures that the following sequence of operations occurs for the automobile to function effectively. Intake, compression, power and exhaust stroke, this is concerning the mechanicals of the automobile. Same occurs with the electricals I=V/R ohms law, where Voltage is a constant depending on the source. The voltage could either be 12v or 5v; when fed from the main battery or the ECU respectively
V= Voltage
I= Current
R= Resistance.
The only difference is the applications which is determined by the specific manufacturer.
Apprenticeship training is no longer the look and learn; its now read, research, watch design videos and learn. It is the responsibility of the trainer to ensure the trainee gets the right information that will prepare him to grow into a complete trainer over time. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the trainee to believe in himself for the responsibility being given.
Apprenticeship and mentorship training are vital components of capacity building; enforcing its continuity is the responsibility of the government through policy-making, supervision of the systems and supporting when necessary. Taking a queue from other parts of the world where these systems are already being implemented will go a long way in empowering and strengthening our various systems.
True influence must lead to CHANGE and that change must be translated into social betterment!!!
