By Aunie Edwards
Special to The Toronto Sun

Even the most seasoned handyman will concede defeat in the face of a drywall project. It takes a very specialized skill to do the job well, and a drywall expert needs more than just an inherent drive for perfection -- he needs an extensive practical background.

Robert Cuff, a senior at Central Etobicoke High School, is learning the fine details of drywalling from instructor Kim Campagnaro.

Robert Cuff is well on his way to owning both criteria. A senior at Central Etobicoke High School, Cuff already has plenty of the personal characteristics that will make him good. And as a student under the Ontario Youth

Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), he's well ahead of the game in achieving the essential hands-on training.

"Robert is a very meticulous and engaged student -- and this government-funded apprentice program is tailor-made for him," says Marlene Gray Steele, Cuff's co-op teacher at Central Etobicoke.

"There was a career day at the school and a presentation about drywall finishing caught my eye," says Cuff. "I asked Ms. Gray Steele about it and she supplied me with the material I needed to make an informed decision. When I chose to follow this path, she helped to make it happen and I've never looked back."

"Robert is presently completing his pre-placement course at Interior Finishing Systems facility-- an OYAP-affiliated training centre -- and he will begin his first working contract in April," says Gray Steele. "This is paid work, and his hours will be applied to the apprenticeship.

The beauty of the program is that while he gains a real head start in skills training, he'll remain academically involved through continuous evaluation -- and that will enable his graduation from high school in June."

Cuff's apprenticeship also gains him membership with the union, where he'll receive practical instruction in a skilled trade that will pay him handsomely, even during his training contracts.

Education requirements Students must complete a minimum of three in-school credits per year. Schools are required to monitor the program offered in the workplace to ensure it meets secondary school credit requirements. To receive their high school diploma, students must still complete all compulsory credits. Apprenticeship requirements Students must be placed with a qualified employer. Students must follow an on-the-job training program based on the specific standards for the trade. They may also receive related theoretical instruction. How to apply To apply to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, contact your school's guidance department or your local apprenticeship office. Visit www.youthjobs.gov.on.ca or call the training hotline at 416-326-5656 or at 1-800-387-5656 for more information. -- Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

"OYAP is an apprentice program that is recognized by over 50 contractors in the union -- that's a substantial resource for a co-op student whose looking for work hours," says Candi Collandreas of Interior Finishing Systems.

And since practice makes perfect, a drywall apprenticeship demands a considerable commitment of time. The program is split into basic and advanced levels, with the first level comprising about 2,700 hours, which takes two years to complete.

Cuff will then return to the classroom for another eight weeks for advanced level training. After more working placements to accumulate the 5,400 hour requirement, he'll write his qualifier exam. The entire program takes about four and a half years.

The time commitment is indicative of the degree of difficulty drywall finishing and plastering presents.

"The apprentice is taught how to finish everything before the paint is applied," Collandreas says. "Since errors can't easily hide beneath a layer of paint, the drywaller has to get it right."

The challenge fascinates rather than intimidates Cuff.

"There's quite an art to handling the tools and finishing properly," Cuff says. "I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist because I find myself really appreciating the skill required and really enjoying a job well done."



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