Budget boost likely for apprenticeship training

By HELEN TUNNAH

The Government has hinted at a boost for apprenticeship training in next month's Budget, after Education Minister Trevor Mallard asked secondary teachers to tell their students a trade is not a second-rate career.

He told the Post Primary Teachers Association's annual conference that not all roads in education should lead to university.

He said apprenticeships were important and should not be considered second-class career choices for pupils.

After his speech Mr Mallard refused to comment on the Budget, and if there would more resources for programmes which link secondary students to on-the-job training rather than tertiary study.

In last year's Budget, a $55.6 million programme was launched to ensure all 15 to 19-year-olds were in education or training, or had jobs, by 2007. That included an expansion of apprenticeship training and trade training through schools.

Mr Mallard was reluctant to say if the Government was working on policy options to address a shortage of skilled trades people.

"We're always working on these issues ... I'm not going to make much more of a comment."

Finance Minister Michael Cullen last week said quality problems were creeping into the tertiary education sector, partly because of a "bums on seats approach".

He said it was worrying that just 40 per cent of students gained a qualification within five years of enrolling in study. He also raised the prospect of better links between education and industry training.