Did you do any practical work at school at all? When I left Secondary at 16 I had completed 5 years of metalwork, woodwork and technical drawing. Weekly that was about a day and a half of practical work. In addition I built motor bikes and worked on cars with my old man. Even then my first 6 months as an apprentice was spent on hand tools filing and fitting.
If your man isn't explaining jobs properly it will be tough. Ask why stuff is done as well as how.
Changing oil, filter and points on Bedford CF
Sorting scrap metal out into different piles.
all sorts of stuff.
At school, like you say, tec drawing, wood work, metal work, control technology, design.
I don't think the world is the same any more.
On the scrap metal, I used to sort it into
Lead
Brass
Brazery
Gun metal
Heavy copper
Clean copper
Aluminium.
That will no doubt be against Health and safety rules now.
In fact, my last apprentice spent 16 weeks on Health and safety, so it's no real wonder he was slow to get going.
I'm thinking they are taught different now and by different types of people.
The world is a very different place !