Abstract:
Competency-based training remains a major plank in government policy for VET reform. This is
despite mounting evidence that competency-based training may not be leading to the desired
increase in knowledge and performance. This paper reports findings from a preliminary investigation
into the knowledge/skill levels of third (final) year Metal Trades apprentices after the introduction
of competency-based training. In the part of the ongoing research reported, the students were
tested using some items from a pre-competency-based training test in order to ascertain whether
still occupationally relevant knowledge was in fact known by this group of students.
