Eleven nominees, three laureates and only one best Vocational Teacher—the results of this year’s competition were announced on November 29. “What the Guild does together with the County guarantees that we will have excellent employees! This form of training is the best way to learn—acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical skills at the same time. As a company president, I rate this initiative very highly. The County is working so that respect for and the tradition of crafts can once again become present on the Polish labor market,” said the chairman of the Bolesławiec County Council, Karol Stasik.
The aim of the competition is to honor establishments that, while observing the law and occupational health and safety rules, train young craftspeople in an atmosphere of goodwill and mutual respect. This year’s edition was divided into two stages. In the first, the best vocational teachers were nominated by the headteachers of schools that cooperate with craft establishments. The heads of educational institutions took into account, among other things, working conditions, wages and the atmosphere at the establishment.
From among the eleven nominees (Zdzisław Kilityński, Krystian Mucha, Antonina Kopała-Wdowiak, Kazimierz Zarówny, Bolesław Buryło, Grażyna Matczak, Mieczysław Żuraw, Mirosław Seneszyn, Sławomir Buryło, Zdzisław Berezowski and Sławomir Kruk), the competition committee selected three laureates.
“There are around 150 craft establishments in Bolesławiec. Of all the employers who train young workers, the schools nominated these eleven for the title of Best Vocational Teacher,” said Alicja Krzyszczak, head of the Department of Education, Culture, Physical Culture and Sport and a member of the competition committee. “It was very difficult for us to choose the person who should receive this honorable title. The criteria we followed were primarily the conditions provided for young workers,” she added.
During the Master’s Ball, the nominees received their certificates from Karol Stasik and Zbigniew Ładziński, president of the Lower Silesian Chamber of Crafts. “Powiat Bolesławiecki and its vocational education system are among the best. In Bolesławiec—a city considerably smaller than Jelenia Góra—there are more than 150 establishments and around 500 students. In Jelenia Góra, the number of students is similar, but the number of establishments is several times greater. I have great respect for education in Powiat Bolesławiecki,” Ładziński emphasized.
Mirosław Seneszyn, owner of a transport and forwarding company, was named the 2008 Best Vocational Teacher. “This is a very modern company. Students have excellent welfare and working conditions. It is a 21st-century company. My heartfelt congratulations!” said Alicja Krzyszczak during the ceremony. “My heartfelt congratulations to the winners! If schools nominated as many as 11 entrepreneurs for this title, it means that our crafts are of a high standard! I attend many education conferences, and I am pleased because our county is praised everywhere for its cooperation with craftspeople,” added the county head, Cezary Przybylski.
Grażyna Matczak (the catering sector) took second place. Mieczysław Żuraw (the construction sector) came third.
(information from the County Office/ii)