MEDIA RELEASE
15 SEPTEMBER 2005

Destiny NZ: Business Starts At Primary School

A business programme making Rotorua kids business savvy will be rolled out to classrooms nationwide under Destiny New Zealand's education policy.

More than 1200 Rotorua school children in one school have been through the Primary Enterprise Programme ---- or PREP --- since it was first introduced to local schools in 1998.

It helps to improve their practical knowledge of how businesses work and to foster perceptions of business as a rewarding and viable career.

Associate principal of a large Rotorua intermediate school and Destiny New Zealand candidate for the area, Elaine Herbert helped develop the pilot programme eight years ago and said it had been successful in raising the students' career aspirations and helped them set goals for the future.

Business careers were something Rotorua youth needed more encouragement towards, and she believed there was a need for the programme nationwide.

"Our kids don't aspire to anything. We have so many bright young people but they don't have a clue about what they want to do when they leave school," said Herbert.

"Ask them if they want to be rich and no one puts their hands up."

The party also has a vision to set up young entrepreneur colleges and 'sporting academies to provide educational pathways for students demonstrating natural gifts and talents in these areas

Destiny New Zealand would also review NCEA with a view to achieve definitive examination results that are understood by the student, parents and potential employers .

"It has to be changed. It's one of the reasons why a lot of students aren't pushing for success," said Herbert.

ENDS

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