INFLATED PASS RATES FOR PARTNER CARD SCHEMES FOR PLANT OPERATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES

Background

It's always good news for NPORS and CPCS candidates when the Instructor informs you that you have been successful in your theory and practical testing and have been awarded a specific level of competence.  Social media platforms are quick to advertise the providers' 100% pass rate for a specific batch of novices or experienced workers but why is it we very rarely see how many have failed or in the current jargon, "not achieved!"  While it might seem generous to give plant operator students 100% every time, it can actually undermine the learning process and have several negative consequences.  By comparison to the rigours of getting your driving licence theory and practical testing successfully achieved the partner card schemes process would appear a walk in the park.  

The likelihood of a candidate passing his/her practical driving test is currently 46.3% compared to Partner Card Schemes where one scheme has approximately 85% and the other more than 95% pass rates.  The theoretical aspects of the two major schemes still see providers running through a category's full question and answer options "verbatim," despite rules to the contrary,  with the candidates effectively up against what can best be described as no more than a memory test!  Nobody is checking sufficiently on the training provider and the robustness of the delivery.

Inflated Pass Rates

Where providers consistently pass all candidates it will inflate pass rates, which might not accurately reflect the competence of plant operator scheme candidates.  Naturally this will devalue any tickets issued and potentially compromise safety and quality standards, especially in the safety critical categories of plant requiring high levels of skill and expertise, such as excavators, telescopic handlers, dozers, graders, cranes and piling rigs, eg.  Concerns by Tier 1 contractors during 2024 on the dubious claims of competence by many ticketed plant operators has demanded a certain amount of robust profiling and retraining and mentoring before they are considered safe to operate on site.

Lowered Standards

Lowered standards by plant card scheme providers can create a perception that the standards for the qualification are not sufficiently rigorous which might undermine the credibility and value of the ticket of claimed competence.  What could be worse than candidates let loose on the sector's sites with a false sense of competence believing they are fully competent in a respective category of plant without truly mastering the necessary skills and knowledge, an accident waiting to happen in a field where precision and expertise are crucial.

Lack of Motivation

If partner card scheme plant operator candidates know that passing is guaranteed, they might not be as motivated to study and thoroughly prepare leading to a lack of diligence and commitment.  

Inadequate Skills Assessment

A huge disadvantage of providers trotting out 100% pass rate is that it might not accurately reflect a candidate's practical abilities and problem solving skills, which are a key ingredient to all in construction work. An influx of partner card scheme operatives without the necessary skills can and will saturate the job market, making it harder for truly qualified candidates to stand out.

Mystery Shopper - a Means of Improving Quality Assurance

Many of the Partner Card Schemes' quality assurance for plant operator training is woefully inadequate and no more than a box ticking exercise.  Mystery shoppers would provide an unbiased and objective perspective on the service or product being evaluated.  Since they operate anonymously, they can express the training provider experience as a typical customer would, without any preconceived notions or biases.  

By going through the entire plant operator experience mystery shoppers can pinpoint specific areas of training provider delivery where the service falls short.  This helps in identifying weaknesses that might not be apparent through customer feedback alone.  Mystery shopping helps ensure consistency in service delivery across different provider locations and a variety of categories of plant.  Mystery shopping would ensure consistency in plant operator training delivery and help maintain a standard level of quality.

Feedback Forms/Happy Sheets

Candidate "Happy sheets," also known as satisfaction surveys or feedback forms, are commonly used to gather feedback from trainees after a tuition session. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using these feedback tools:

Advantages of Happy Sheets

Training providers usually are keen to get departing plant operator candidates to fill in a "happy sheet" before they depart to provide their impressions while the training experience is still fresh.  Astute instructors should pay heed to candidates' insights into what works well and what needs improvement, helping to refine and improve course content.

Disadvantages of Happy Sheets

Feedback can be influenced by a candidate's mood or external factors leading to biased or inconsistent responses.  As we know all too well, many candidates do not take the feedback process seriously and provide generic or superficial comments, reducing the value of the feedback.  If trainees are not required to fill out the feedback sheets, response rates can be low, leading to an incomplete picture.   Instructors and providers might resist negative feedback, especially if it’s seen as a threat to their professional reputation.  Without a clear plan for implementing changes based on feedback, the process can become an exercise in futility, with no real improvements made.

Reputation and Standards

Partner card schemes, awarding organisations and instructors/testers/assessors that maintain high standards and are transparent about their testing criteria will command more respect and trust throughout the construction sector and beyond.  Passing all candidates without rigorous evaluation will only harm the sector's reputation.  Ultimately, the goal of quality plant operator training and testing should be to ensure that candidates are competent and prepared for their roles in industry. Consistent high grades should reflect true understanding and effort.  Consistently giving 100% without merit devalues genuine achievements and the grading system as a whole.  It produces a feedback deficiency where the 100% pass award does not provide students with information on areas that need to improve, hindering their personal growth and learning.

Mick Norton BEM Cert Ed