Teacher Jacco: "They are very motivated, help each other and there is laughter."
The orientation phase of the Technique Garden IJmond is over. In the first part of this project, the ten participants received six weeks of technical classes at the NOVA Campus in Beverwijk in various technical fields. They also got to know the eleven companies affiliated with this pilot: they visited them and received guest lectures. This way the participants got a good idea of what each company does and what skills they need to work there. After these six weeks of orientation, the candidates will do a six-week internship at one of the eleven member companies at the end of May.
The Techniektuin IJmond is a project of Techport, the Province of North Holland, the WerkgeversServicepunt ZKIJ, the Nova College Beverwijk and 11 companies that allows new entrants to actually start in a technical profession.
Instructor Jacco Regtop of the NOVA Campus in Beverwijk taught the ten participants electrical, metal, installation, process and insulation technology. He looks back on it with a good feeling.
"I find this group a breath of fresh air."
"What I find special is that within six weeks the ten participants have really become a close-knit group .They are very motivated, they help each other and there is laughter. The latter is also important. The first three weeks were all about tool knowledge and safety. How certain machines work, for example how to saw and operate acordless drill. For one participant this is easy, but for another it is completely new. These differences in knowledge make it very interesting for me as a teacher. Some participants want more of a challenge, others build it up slowly. Both are good. I have been a teacher at NOVA College for 18 years and I find this group a relief. They listen when I explain something and they are very eager to learn. That is sometimes different with the mbo students."
