Students get hands on build experience

Learning can be so much more than a classroom and textbooks, says Warwick Foy, manager of education innovation at Taranaki Futures.

Warwick attended the official roof shout of the Build a Bach project on Swansea Road last week along friends and families of the students involved to see the progress of the project and celebrate the addition of the roof.

The project, which is a joint venture between Taranaki Futures and Western Institute of Technology (WITT), began earlier this year with the students constructing the bach before the end of the school year.

Warwick says the project is progressing well and the students involved are highly motivated and are eager to learn and adds the students are demonstrating to schools and their peers that trades careers are valued and offer wonderful long term opportunities for young people.

Mark Bowden, deputy chairperson of Taranaki Futures, says the project is not only a credit to the students but to their families, "they took a risk on us, putting the students into a different kind of learning environment and it has paid off."

Mark says Taranaki Futures aim is to work with secondary and tertiary providers to address the impending skills shortages as regions like Taranaki grow into aging populations.

By giving our secondary students the opportunity to develop their trades skills now, we are preparing them for not only their future but the future of the region.

Mark Bowden, deputy chairperson of Taranaki Futures

Mark adds that only 30 per cent of secondary school students attend university after high school and projects like Build a Bach give the other students the option of different pathway.

Barbara George, chief executive of WITT, agrees with Mark adding the Build a Bach project is about putting learning into action for the students involved.

Philip Keenan, principal of Stratford High School, spoke to the students and families at the roof shout and said "I am really impressed with all the students involved, you are a credit to their schools".

Philip says the project has been a learning curve for the students with not only the trades work but with time management. He adds he is grateful to Warwick, project manager Pete Goodwin and tutor Gavin Moss.

Warwick says it is only with the help of all the project partners involved that the Build A Bach programme is so successful.

The Build A Bach, located at Stratford High School, will be completed by the end of November in line with the school term. It will be auctioned off and relocated with the money made going towards future projects.

For more information about the Build A Bach project or to follow the progress see: www.facebook.com/taranakiskillssquad?ref=hl