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Incredibly Successful Vocational Pathways Programme

Incredibly Successful Vocational Pathways Programme

An incredibly successful Aoraki Polytechnic programme that keeps secondary students engaged in education will be expanded next year.

The Vocational Pathways, or V-Path programme, was so successful in its first year that the number of students, range of programmes, and schools involved with all grow in 2015.

The programme is a partnership between the polytechnic and secondary schools which aims to keep students at school for longer.

Polytechnic Chief Executive Alex Cabrera said engaging with local high schools is one of the institute’s priorities.

“I am very happy with the achievements to date, which prepare these students for future opportunities,” Cabrera said.

This year, more than 70 students spent one day each week at the polytechnic learning hospitality, hair and beauty, automotive, and carpentry.

Academic Director Ginny Vincent said there had already been 190 applications for next year’s programmes.

All of the 16 Aoraki secondary schools had come on board, which was a huge tribute to the programme’s popularity and success.

Vincent said the programme was aimed at keeping students engaged in education whilst offering them programmes that allowed them to gain NCEA Level 2 with the endorsement in one of six vocational pathways.

Of the 14 students on the automotive course’s mid-year intake, 12 had gone on to enrol in the polytechnic’s mainstream automotive programme in 2015.

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Next year, the programme would include all of this year’s choices, as well as early childhood, electrical and agriculture. The courses ranged from levels two to three.

Waitaki Girls High principal Tracy Walker, whose school was part of this year’s programme, said V-Path was a great way of keeping girls engaged in school longer and gaining vital Level 2 Credits.

“We had a range of girls involved in both the Timaru and Oamaru campuses and we were pleased with how well our students engaged with it as it gave them an opportunity to get a ‘taster’ or boost on a particular vocational pathway.’’

Ms Walker said the programme fitted in well with the school’s desire to give ‘bridge the gaps’ between school, tertiary education, and the workplace.

“It’s all about the transitions and this programme helped our girls make important decisions for their future.’’

Some Waitaki Girls went on to win scholarships to further develop their pathways.

“We are very keen to make this a permanent and sustainable programme to ensure multiple pathways for our students,’’ Ms Walker said.

ENDS

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