I started operating machineries when in primary schools untill now (my families mostly in machine workshop line). Not suprisingly, I was in Tech stream during sec., then proceed on to mech dip.
When I join the work force, I volunteer to do machining for my own project. Initially, the workshop sup was reluctant, but after observing me working on the lathe & milling, he lets me use it as and when I need to. Though by then, I had work with m/c for more than 10yrs (on & off), there are still alot more to learn, even though the technology had remain the same, unlike IT lines. There is a saying In cantonese, "easy to pick up, difficult to become expert". Just like photography.
However, if you are looking into courses in this area, quite useless cause these things comes with experience gainned via hands on over the years. Closes I can think off is the ITEs, though I doubt they will concerntrate on the hands on as their sylibous had changed alot.
In a workshop, you can classify the workers into 3 skill set group :
1) fabrication - flame and welding work
2) machining - operates machinaries
3) fitter - combi of both fab & m/c
Skill set (1) & (2) are the experts in their field.
Goup (3) are those who can to both, but they typically do not have the qualifications to weld pressure vessels (requires special certifications) etc, as in the group (1). Also, interm of speed and accuracy in machining, they are a grade lower than group (2). However, they possess some knowledge of pnumatics & hydraulics systems etc as they are incharge of assembling a machines.
I hope by sharing my lfe long learning journey in machining will be of some use to you or anyone who is interested in this field.