Difficulties faced by the apprentices in the

apprenticeship system.
After the abolishment of slavery in 1834,a new system was introduced known as the apprenticeship
system. It was introduced as a way to provide a smooth transition from slavery to freedom. The
apprentices were separated into two groups the praedials and non-praedials. The praedials were
to work six years in the field and non-praedials were to work for four years domestically but the
planters also classified artisans as field slaves in order to get them to work the full six years.
Three difficulties faced by the apprentices include, harsh punishments and unpaid hours. The
apprenticeship system was supposed to provide a smooth transition from
The planters felt that they were unfairly robbed of the slaves which they were regarded as
property and in retaliation apprentices were subjected to harsh punishments such as flogging
which in more times than not was ignored by special magistrates who had been bribed by
planters. An aim of the apprenticeship system was to prepare the former enslaved for civilization
but still viewed them as property to be mistreated.
As another way of having control over the apprentices, planters often raised a price of freedom
and paid the apprentices very little or outright didn’t pay for overtime work. Although special
magistrates were to overlook the plantation, some apprentices felt they sided with the planters.
Which one again was proven to be true.
Lastly planters often taxed the apprentices for things they were supposed to provide such as
huts ,and food provisions. They exploited apprentices over wages as well. The apprenticeship
system was doomed from the start.