'n Ondersoek na die hoë verliese tydens die opleiding van leerlinge by die Staatsopleidingskollege vir Mynwerkers

Abstract

There is, and has been for some time, a high wastage rate among learner miners at the Government Miners' Training College. In spite of various previous attempts to reduce the wastage, the problem has remained unsolved. Over the last ten years the shortage of miners has become more acute. In addition to problems associated with the shortage of men, however, wastage of trainees at the G.M.T.C. is assessed to cost the industry more than R300 000 p.a. This investigation describes a new study of the problem. Over a period of one year, 600 trainees in the Government Miners' Training College completed a questionnaire designed for gathering comprehensive biographical and other data. In addition to the compilation of detailed descriptive tables based on the responses of the trainees, an analysis was carried out on the responses of 129 stayers and 116 leavers in connection with 165 different variables. Two sophisticated computer programs were employed for t he analysis.

All the predictor variables were examined to determine their interaction and their relationship to the dependant variable, namely wastage. The findings showed that eight of the predictor variables included in the analysis accounted for some 69 per cent of the variance in the wastage criterion, corresponding to a multiple correlation of 0,806. The following variables were important in predicting wastage: (a) whether the trainee was in possession of a blasting certificate. (b) the type of last employer prior to joining the G.M.T.C., (c) the particular training centre and whether the trainee was resident in the G.M.T.C. hostel, (d) the trainee's ability to adjust to underground conditions, such as narrowness of working places and the development of headaches when handling explosives, (e) aspects about a job which were disliked, and (f) aspects about a mine which were likes. From the analysis it was possible to predict the value of the different combinations of the above variables. It was concluded that it should be possible to reduce wastage at the G.M.T.C. by: (i) taking into account the general unemployment index in South Africa and introducing closer screening procedures during times of high general unemployment; (ii) introducing a status qualification during the early part of the training say, after 90 shifts; (iii ) aiming recruiting at men from mining jobs and avoiding recruits from the S.A.R. & H.; (iv) examining reasons why "living-in" trainees were more likely to be leavers, and by comparing training centres which have high turnover rates with those which have low turnover rates; (v) reviewing the standard of discipline to which the trainees are subjected and the interpersonal relationships between staff (including mine personnel) and trainees; (vi) providing detailed information to trainees about the number of miners earning different levels of income across the industry and about the probability of a trainee's earning a particular income; (vii) reviewing safety training and keeping training as interesting as possible.