Hawke’s Bay Champions Trades Academy

Media Release
Hawke’s Bay Champions Trades Academy

Strong demand for student places will see Hawke’s Bay Schools Trades Academy@EIT start this year with a much increased roll.

Launched last year and supported by the vast majority of Hawke’s Bay secondary schools, the trades academy on the Hawke’s Bay campus will open its doors on Friday (February 22) to 250 students – up from 145 students in 2012.

Across EIT’s Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti campuses, 400 students will be taking part in trades academy programmes compared to 245 last year.

Three further Hawke’s Bay schools have joined the partnership – Woodford House, Iona College and Flaxmere College – and EIT will be offering agriculture, carpentry and a second year in recreation and sport as additional programmes.

A Government initiative, the nationwide Trades Academy scheme provides practical skills training for senior high school students while allowing them to study for NCEA credits and industry-based tertiary qualifications.

EIT Trades Academy manager Paul Hursthouse says EIT made a strategic decision to support Hawke’s Bay secondary schools by responding to the strong demand for places.

“The demand for the significantly increased places has come directly from schools, students and their families.

“Because of the challenges facing youth leaving school without qualifications, we decided to support our partnering schools by assisting them in keeping students engaged in education and helping them to identify further training opportunities and career paths.”

Hawke’s Bay Schools Trades Academy@EIT also encompasses EIT’s Tairawhiti campus in Gisborne, and demand there has also outstripped places funded by the Ministry of Education. As a result, EIT has enrolled 50 percent more students this year for Tairawhiti programmes.

“We are meeting the needs of our school communities and those of 16 to 17-year-olds who are offered fees-free places for training in EIT programmes that include hair and beauty services, hospitality, trades skills, automotive and animal care,” Mr Hursthouse said.

Students will attend Hawke’s Bay Schools Trades Academy @ EIT from 9am from 2.30pm every Friday over the coming school year.

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