Electrical news
Winter 2019
energysafe issue 54
Strategies for helping
students achieve success
By Sue Sizer, Compliance Officer, Electrical Installation Safety
The Licensed Electricians Assessment (LEA) is a set of three
assessments, which must be completed by apprentices intending
to apply for an A Class Electrician’s Licence in Victoria. The LEA
includes a theory, practical and a safe working practice assessment.
Did you know that any candidate
who fails one of these assessments six
times or more, or achieves a result of
less than 40% in the theory or practical
assessments is reported to ESV?
Why? This is so we can help them
achieve a successful result. After
multiple attempts, candidates can reach
a stage of hopelessness, where they
do not know who to turn to for help and
are ready to turn away from the trade,
despite completing their apprenticeship.
ESV wants to help these candidates
to break the cycle of constantly sitting
and failing their exams.
Following discussions with industry
stakeholders on the issue, ESV started
receiving reports on ‘excessive attempt’
candidates in early 2016.
In January 2019, we began reporting
on candidates with results under
40%, and since then, we have received
reports on over 70 candidates in this
situation. A third of these apprentices
have now achieved a successful result,
with another 30 apprentices actively
undertaking extra training. Not all are
committed or successful, and some
have left the trade and are unlikely
to ever complete.
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So why do candidates
fail so badly, or so often?
The reasons are often very individual.
Sometimes it is a lack of understanding
of the concepts, unfamiliarity with
the Standards, difficulties with
comprehension, or English being a
second language. Family issues, money
pressures, work pressures, or lack
of time to study are also contributing
factors.
Similarly, a lack of commitment to the
trade, disinterest, or not acknowledging
that the assessments require effort on
their part. It could also be related to
candidates having learning difficulties,
struggling with mental health issues,
or other medical conditions.
Sometimes, it is simply a lack of maturity
– one candidate admitted they enjoyed
being the ‘class clown’, and now the
joke is on them.
In these instances, ESV will not let the
candidate sit an exam until they have
completed the minimum required work
or addressed any issues hindering them
to ensure a reasonable outlook
for success.
Our aim is to assist candidates to identify
any problems or barriers to success,
and help them find a solution.
ESV can assist in directing eligible
candidates to where they can seek
additional tutorial help or support,
or consider extra time allowances or
other special assessment requirements.
Case study examples include printing
the assessment on coloured paper,
ensuring a candidate sat near a window
for natural light, and providing a solo
assessment so the candidate could read
the question aloud without disturbing
others sitting the exam.
ESV appreciates the support of teachers
and tutors in this process, and having
candidates pass is often a team effort.
This includes support from family,
friends, employers and work colleagues.
But when a successful result is finally
achieved, it is the candidate who must
take the credit, as they have done the
hard yards.