July 2017

“Lack of ‘soft skills’ holds young Kiwis back”

Wed, 2017-07-05 09:47

“The Government is spending $40 million to improve the digital technology skills of school students, but employers say it is a lack of 'soft skills' such as teamwork, self-management and decision-making that makes many young New Zealanders unready for work.

“One rapidly-expanding programme is focusing on those skills, in the hope of cutting the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

Fishing cadets and Buller REAP

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:16

Each year over 100 people, most of whom are Máori or Pasifika, come to a residential school in Westport to get national qualifications that will set them up for a career in fishing. Cadets at the school fall into two categories. Firstly there are courses for young people (16-18 years) who are there to do a L2 National Certificate in Seafood Processing and At Sea Processing and a L3 certificate in Domestic Vessel Crewing. These two courses together take 26 weeks. Then there is a L2 course for adults in Seafood Processing, which runs for 13 weeks.

Ngātiwai - educating to revitalise and normalise their tikanga and te reo

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:34

In a process which is thought to be the first in the country, Ngātiwai have worked with all of their 14 marae to develop Te Kupenga Reo o Ngātiwai - a programme linked to their Tikanga and Te Reo Strategy aimed at revitalising and normalising their language and tikanga across the rohe.

… and more adult education for Ngātiwai

Gayle Wellington & Rodney Ngawaka - Ngatiwai Education

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:44

The good news for the iwi is that, following a positive NZQA review, Ngātiwai Education Te Au Here O Tūkaiaia is looking forward to designing and running more programmes for the people of Te Taitokerau, opening the way for further implementation of their strategic plan.

Here’s how it happened and what programmes they are providing.

Participation today and leaders for tomorrow: Pacific youth gear up in Christchurch

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:52

There’s a new Act on the New Zealand Parliament website. It’s called the Pacific Youth Parliament (Our Movement) Act 2017. In the explanatory note it states: ‘This Act aims to enhance Pacific People’s development in Aotearoa, and the total welfare of all of New Zealand. This addresses key issues that Pacific Peoples face, and recommends initiatives that will allow progress for Pacific people not only to survive, but to fully participate in every aspect of this country.’

Living Economies Expo in Christchurch

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:54

Around 120 people from around the country came together in Lyttelton in late March to listen to twelve national and international speakers, make connections with like-minded people across the country and to see, in action, what Project Lyttelton is achieving. They were learning about living economies.

Learning with the Porirua Whānau Centre

Wed, 2017-07-12 21:57

Most people are in crisis when they turn up at the door of the Porirua Whānau Centre Trust in Canons Creek. They are usually struggling with financial, social, emotional and family harm problems. Homelessness has also been an increasing problem.

The Whānau Centre is a community hub providing services for pre-schoolers to the elderly. It is one of six MSD-funded social service centres in the country.

Christchurch’s Russian Cultural Centre

Wed, 2017-07-12 22:02

The Russian Cultural Centre in Christchurch was established in 2000 to promote and preserve the Russian language and culture. The centre provides classes for children (including adopted children) and adults, and holds cultural events and performances. They also run English language courses for adults, helping them integrate into New Zealand society.

Anna Filippochkina is the programme coordinator at the centre and director of the school. She arrived in New Zealand in 1998 and was involved with the trust’s establishment

Professional development for community language teachers

Wed, 2017-07-12 22:05

In talking with Anna Filippochkina about the classes that the Russian Cultural Centre is providing, we also learned what is being done to improve the training available for community language teachers in Christchurch.

In Christchurch there are community language classes in many languages, including Russian, Arabic, Polish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tongan, Indian, Sinhalese, Italian, French…and many others.

Community Education as a Small Business

Wed, 2017-07-12 22:06

By Bridget Klubien

The end of 2009 saw drastic budget cuts to community education in schools. Of 212 schools that had Adult Community Education programmes, 150 had their funding entirely withdrawn. Without funding the vast majority closed their programmes immediately. A few continued to employ their coordinators on salary to see if they could cover costs - most found this unsustainable.

The programme at Western Springs College was the only one to be transformed into a privately owned social enterprise.

Supporting manaakitanga and whānaungatanga in Levin

Wed, 2017-07-12 22:10

For the last 25 years Te Kokiri Development Consultancy in Levin has been providing community education, in one form or another, first and foremost as a Māori PTE, and since 2016 as a TEC funded ACE provider as well.

Te Kokiri Development Consultancy was established as an Incorporated Society and a registered Private Training Establishment in 1992. The founding member was Koro Hemi (James) Moses. Koro Jim has since died but Te Kokiri continues to express his dream: Mahi tahi mo te painga o te katoa - Working together for the benefit of all.

Power through power tools in Australia

Wed, 2017-07-12 22:18

This article was first published in the Adult Learning Australia publication Quest, Issue 1 2017.

A Women’s Shed that teaches women trades skills is flourishing in Orange, New South Wales, Australia.

In the large shed just out of Orange, women of all ages work away at benches in their hot pink safety vests, hammering and sawing, exchanging advice and encouragement. Whether they’re making a bird feeder or a tool caddy, most of the women are learning trade skills and tool handling skills for the first time.

You are here

News