Education has been a hot topic for debate recently and the media often overflows with reports on the low achievement, lack of direction and disengagement of youth.
The older generation comment is, “These days young people have too many choices and do not maximise the opportunities they are presented with!”
If this is the case, New Zealand has a serious challenge on its hands because the youth of today are also the workforce of tomorrow.
In 2010, the New Zealand Government took measures to counteract the challenge by making a commitment to ensure that our future workforce is educated, skilled and employable.
Youth Programme
This was done through the introduction of the Youth Guarantee programme.
Now in its third year of operation, participants of the programme are reaping the rewards of their efforts and youth are proving that in fact they can be engaged and achieve goals of education and employment.
By taking up the New Zealand Career College’s (NZCC) Certificate in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Out of School Care (Youth Guarantee) programme, two young women in particular have soared to great heights and achieved far more than they ever thought possible.
Success stories
Fiji born Divya Darsani immigrated to New Zealand with her family in 2005.
The 14-year-old girl attended Aorere College but by the time she completed Year 12, she found herself at crossroads because her passion was to become a qualified Early Childhood Educator.
Her school did not offer the subject, which fitted with her chosen career path.
Divya heard about the Youth Guarantee Programme offered at NZCC on the radio and with the support of her mother, she decided to leave school and enrol in the programme. She completed the yearlong programme and graduated at the end of 2011 with a National Certificate in ECE Level 3 as well as the Certificate in Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Level 4.
Having achieved a good foundation in ECE, Divya realised that she needed a higher qualification to get a well-paying position in the industry and hence she enrolled in the Diploma in ECE (Pasifika) Level 5 in 2012.
In March 2013, she was awarded her Diploma at NZCC’s Graduation ceremony with her family and friends in attendance.
Since graduating and armed with a qualification and hands on skills, Divya was recently employed as a reliever by Discovery Early Childhood Centre in Mangere.
She hopes that this will eventuate in full time employment.
“I would recommend Youth Guarantee as a starting point for young people who are passionate about pursuing a career in ECE but don’t know how to get there.”
Amazing opportunity
True to her word, Divya encouraged her friend Bevandeep Kaur to take up the opportunity of pursuing a career in ECE.
Born in Punjab (India) Bevandeep joined her family in New Zealand in 2008.
She was amazed at the opportunity to gain a qualification at no cost under the Youth Guarantee Programme as education is not freely available in her country of birth.
Despite the challenge of having to adjust to a new country, language and culture, Bevandeep excelled in the Youth Guarantee Programme, gaining the academic ability to attempt the Diploma in ECE (Pasifika) Level 5.
She too has realised her dream of gaining a tertiary qualification in ECE.
When asked what she enjoyed most about the programme she cited the hands on skills and practical work experience gained alongside theory taught in class as the reason behind her success.
New Zealand Career College has four campuses in Auckland and a Wellington campus that specialise in Early Childhood Education. NZCC is still accepting enrolments for their 2013 Youth Guarantee Programme. Free phone 0800-886922 or call the Manukau Campus at 8 Puhinui Road for more information. For further information and to apply for a place on the Free Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Out of School Care, call the number mentioned above.
NZCC is the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in Export to India’ category of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2013.
