6 November 2012
Waiariki awards its first secondary school Trades Academy graduates
The annual Eastern Bay of Plenty Trades Academy 2012 prize giving will be held this Friday, November 9, at 10.00am.
The academy provides fees-free tertiary training for secondary school students who are keen to begin studying part time
at Waiariki Institute of Technology while continuing their secondary studies.
During their first year, students attend classes at Waiariki’s Whakatane campus one day each week; in their second year,
they study at Waiariki two days per week. At the end of two successful years, the students will have earned their
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and National Qualifications Framework (NQF) certificates in one
of 11 trades.
The academy, which is available to students in eight Eastern Bay high schools, celebrated last year with a small prize
giving at the Whakatane Campus. This year the prize giving will be a formal event, held at the Mataatua Wharenui, to
acknowledge the first group of Year 2 students to have completed their qualifications.
“For these students this is an important event – many have been on a journey of self-discovery, experienced success for
the first time, and for a number of students secured three qualifications: NCEA 2, Waiariki certificate and a national
certificate. This is an amazing feat for a large percentage of our students,” said Rosemary Johnson, Waiariki trades
academy development manager.
Guests of the event will include Waiariki’s new chief executive Professor Margaret Noble, who took the helm at Waiariki
on October 1. Also attending will be Ministry of Education National Youth Guarantee Manager Arthur Graves, Waiariki
managers, secondary school representatives and local community guests.
“This is an important day as we also acknowledge academy tutors who have supported our students to reach success,” Ms
Johnson said. “They are a superb team who have made a real difference.”
We hope a member of your team can join us for this important community event celebrating student success and
achievement.
ENDS