Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Southland to get new Trades Academy

Hon Steven Joyce
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Hon Hekia Parata
Minister of Education


26 November 2015


Southland to get new Trades Academy


A brand new Trades Academy will open in Southland next year, meaning secondary school students in every region of the country will now have the opportunity to gain practical skills while studying towards NCEA credits and tertiary qualifications, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“Southland is currently the only region in New Zealand without a Trades Academy and the recognition of the Southland Institute of Technology (SIT) as a Trades Academy lead provider will be a big boost to the skills pipeline for Southland employers,” Mr Joyce says.

“There are a number of labour shortages in Southland in trade-related industries and the new academy will provide secondary school students with an opportunity to transition into industries with good career opportunities in Southland.”

The new academy, to be known as the Murihiku Trades Academy, will begin operation next year and will initially have places for 40 students. SIT will work closely with local secondary schools to offer these places to their students.

Ms Parata says its establishment will create more learning opportunities for Southland students.

“Trades Academies are proving to be a popular learning choice for many students and are helping to lift student achievement,” she says. “ Young people highly motivated towards trade pathways as well as those who were at risk of dropping out are staying engaged in education, building self-esteem, developing problem-solving and time management skills and gaining qualifications.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Last year, about 1,200 18-year-olds achieved NCEA Level 2 through Trades Academies and Youth Guarantee fees-free places that they otherwise would not have gained.

Next year the number of Trades Academy places available across the country will increase by 940 to 6190.

“Trades Academies are helping us achieve the lowest ever percentage of 15-19 year olds not in employment, education or training in the last quarter. It’s a key part of the wider Youth Guarantee programme that’s really delivering for young kiwis”, says Mr Joyce.

Trades Academies are one of the key programmes in the skills section of the Business Growth Agenda to lift the educational achievement of young people and provide stronger vocational pathways, especially across regional New Zealand.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.