250 West Flemish students compete for the title of annual wood test

A total of fifteen West Flemish secondary schools, which offer wood and joinery, competed for the title. Tension was also high today in the second-degree class of the GO!-atheneum Calmeyn in De Panne. The school was one of the participants in the Flemish Wood Test, an annual competition in which they compete against 14 other West Flemish schools. “We received our assignment around eight o’clock this morning,” says practical teacher Yves Devos. “We then briefed the boys and already prepared part of the test.”

In the wood test, students must use different woodworking techniques: including drilling, milling and sawing. The students are given one school day to complete the project according to the plans. The side table had to be finished by six o’clock tonight.

Less supply

The range of wood training courses in technical and vocational education has been declining for years. Carpenter or roofer remains a bottleneck profession. “I notice that there is a decline and that many fewer students are enrolling,” says Yves Devos. “Unjustly, because there is a lot of work on offer in that area. We also notice from the internships that there is a great demand for well-trained professionals.”

The Flemish wood trial is an annual competition of Embuild Flemish joiners. A professional jury will assess all pieces of work and announce the winners at the beginning of June.