2. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What steps is he taking to encourage more young people into trades-related careers?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The most recent is the launch of the Youth Apprenticeships pilot programme in 10 schools across New Zealand that offers secondary students industry-based trades training, tertiary education, and work experience while they are at school. The pilot will be evaluated and we hope to extend it across many more schools in the future.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
It should be seen in the context of a wide-ranging programme to build apprenticeships and industry training. The programme includes restoring funding to Career Services; restoring attention to the technology curriculum in schools; making sure we have a bridge from school to work through programmes such as Gateway, in which 9,000 secondary school students are experiencing the workplace before they leave the classroom; the Modern Apprenticeships scheme, with 3,000 apprenticeships already qualified, and 9,000 in training; and the introduction of the on-the-job training programme in the industry training area of 176,000 trainees next year. I point out that the contribution made by the National Opposition to this programme was to abolish apprenticeships in 1992.
Katherine RichCan he confirm that out of 8,595 secondary school students in the Dunedin area, only 5 students will take part in his pilot next year, meaning he has announced not so much a pilot but a “pilot-ette”, and that this programme, just months after John Key’s trades training policy announcement, is just a cynical attempt to get the issue of increased trades training in schools off the political agenda?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Can I say I am pleased the member thinks a pilot will sweep away the policy of the National Party around the area of apprenticeships, but I would go back to say that while this is a pilot, students can enjoy being part of the many hundreds getting advice around the youth career area. They can be part of a technology programme, they could be part of the 9,000 students currently in training for the Modern Apprenticeships scheme, and they could enjoy being part of the 176,000 who are enjoying being in industry training. So they have huge options compared with the abolition of apprenticeships in the 1990s, which was not much of an option at all for those students.
Hon Bill EnglishI seek leave to table the Hansard showing that the Labour Party voted for the Industry Training Act, which replaced the Apprenticeship Act.
Madam SPEAKERHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I seek leave to table the voting record of National members who voted against the Modern Apprenticeships bill, and during the debate labelled it as pathetic.
I seek leave to table an article from the Otago Daily Times that states only five kids are going to take part in his grand pilot next year.