Techies are desperately needed, but there is no interest in technical training

From figures from Technology Pact it appears that the number of students who pre-sort for a technical education by choosing a nature profile in secondary school is falling. Between 2017 and 2021, that number dropped from 53,743 to 47,432, a 12 percent decrease.

In addition to this shrinkage in nature profiles, the transfer from nature profiles to science and technology programs in higher education is also declining. In 2015, 61 percent of the students with a nature profile moved on to a technical education; in 2020 that will still be 55 percent.

Career Day Northwest

Today, the Jet-Net & TechNet platform is organizing a physical promotion for technical education in the AFAS stadium in Alkmaar for the first time in two years. The business community will try to persuade havo and vwo students to opt for technical further education by means of workshops.

“Corona has bothered us,” says Eva Colen of Jet-Net & TechNet. “It was not possible to organize promotion meetings or company visits for two years, and then you see the registration numbers fall.” It appears necessary to continuously promote technical training in order to maintain the number of registrations.

“Technicians in all areas are and will remain sorely needed,” explains Eva Colen. “If no one can make chips for your phone anymore, we all have a problem, but companies like Tata Steel and Philips will also stagnate if insufficient technicians are trained,” said Colen.

The belief that increasing automation reduces the need for technicians is a misconception. In order to realize and maintain this automation, technicians are necessary.

“We are very happy that today we can organize a real, physical event for the first time in two years,” says Colen. During the Career Day Northwest In the AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar, about 300 students from the highest classes of havo and vwo are expected today. The business community tries to tempt them with attractive workshops to opt for technical further education.

“The offer is very varied and they do everything they can to make technology appealing, most workshops are interactive,” says Colen.

For example, the young people can get started with a game at the Microsoft booth or learn the principles of hacking. But there are also less abstract possibilities. For example, visitors can get to know working at Waternet by carrying out simple chemical experiments. Everything is pulled out to convince the young people. During a previous edition of Career Day, already a few years ago, it was even possible to fly with a drone.

To persevere

Colen emphasizes that it is important not to limit it to one Career Day. “It appears to be necessary to introduce children to technology more often in order to arouse interest in technical education,” explains Colen. “Technology has to be experienced, experienced”.

The Jet-Net& TechNet platform therefore focuses on both primary and secondary schools to draw attention to technology. Efforts are also being made to encourage teachers. “We try to make it clear to teachers that you don’t have to be a technical genius to be able to give a good technique lesson,” says Colen.