Massey High School and Unitec Institute of Technology have jointly established a Trades Academy to offer vocational training to secondary students.
Stated to be the first of its type, the Academy will function within the Massey School. The initial project was launched at the West Auckland Vocational Academy (WAVA) at the school’s Performing Arts Centre recently.
Applications are open to students at the Academy, which has had 88 enrolments since its launch.
Associate Education minister Maori Affairs minister Dr Pita Sharples Social Development and Employment and Youth Affairs minister Paula Bennett attended the launch ceremony.
Driven by the government’s Education Policy, the new academy (one of 13 in the country), would engage with the tertiary sector and industry to help students engage in their education and achieve worthwhile qualifications.
Massey High School principal Bruce Ritchie said that the students of the Academy would be young people who are not achieving in traditional school courses.
“They however have the potential to engage, focus and work hard in a modified school environment. They will follow an alternative ‘vocational pathway’, leading to further tertiary study or directly into gainful employment,” he said.
Massey High School will run three academies for Electrotechnology, Carpentry and two levels of Hospitality.
Mr Ritchie said three additional academies would be established in 2013.
Other local high schools have shown an interest in the project, and Unitec and Massey High School are confident that WAVA has the potential to develop and grow, for the benefit of all West Auckland students.
Mr Ritchie said his school has been working for the last nine years towards the concept, which he believes is an innovative, relevant and exciting way to meet the needs of the community.
“The enthusiasm and excitement that this project has created among our students has been fabulous. We could not have wished for a better start,” he said.
Unitec chief executive Dr Rick Ede said WAVA has the potential to make a significant difference to young people in the local community.
“Students selected for this training initiative can stay at school with all that pastoral care around them, in the structure they are used to. Their broad learning needs will continue to be met at the same time as focusing on the tertiary pathway, and they can still have the First XV, hockey team or other sports or special interest and social groups on the go, which is a real advantage.
