Taak van de mijnschool in het herstructureringsproces

Abstract

In 1965 the Mining School in Heerlen was employed for the re-education of underground mining technicians in order to achieve that these staff could obtain equivalent jobs in industries outside the mines. In previous years the Mining School, an acknowledged institution for advanced technical training, had trained 2,250 mining supervisors and 150 mine surveyors. Retraining would therefore be carried out in a familiar place where the material was being modified on a routine basis to be suitable for changing employment conditions. In 1964 the Mining School occupied new premises which allowed the re-educational program to be handled in the most efficient manner. The cost of re-education could be paid out of contributions received from the Dutch Government together with allowances from the European Authority for Coal and Steel. Although initially it was assumed that only staff under 40 years of age would be re-educated, this upper limit was successfully increased in the course of the years. The paper deals with the didactics, including the various streams of re-education and the placement of those who passed the final exams, 10 different reschooling possibilities could be recognized. At present 380 people have been re-educated with over 190 still at school. Continuous contact is maintained between teacher and pupil when the latter is following practical courses in various industries, one of which may employ him eventually. Much special effort is asked the schooled staff in planning the reschooling programs and in guiding the pupils through the process. Some thought is given to the future of this school in these days of accelerated obsolescene of technical skill due to rapid technical developments. The Mining School has proven that re-orientation and the necessary re-education of staff towards other industries can successfully be achieved.