Pasifika success story

MEDIA RELEASE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Pasifika success story

In their final year at school, twins, Nanumea and Te Pine Foua were St Patrick’s College students fast on their way to success. They achieved tertiary level credits while still at secondary school. And Te Pine has secured a plumbing apprenticeship for 2015. The brothers, of Tokelauan decent, are Year 13 graduates having achieved NCEA Level 3, thanks to hard work, interesting subject choices and time spent ‘on the job’.
“I wanted a solid plan for after school. I was worried about the future,” says Te Pine. “I went to the Careers New Zealand website and looked at the labour market and skill shortages. I identified construction and plumbing as a good starting point.”

As a result, Te Pine, with the help of his career advisors adjusted his subject choices to fit this sector and he interviewed and got applicable work placements. He did a combination of domestic plumbing as well as two weeks on a large, commercial construction site. All which earned him credits.

“It’s what I expected and it’s confirmed I’d like to do plumbing in the future. It’s not like being at school – there is no one chasing you. It’s up to you to make your placement a success. It made me want to come to school. I wouldn’t have tried as hard otherwise,” Te Pine says.

Te Pine could choose subjects related to plumbing through the school’s partnership with the Plumbing Industry Training Organisation. All of this means that he is set up to earn a Vocational Pathways Award in Construction & Infrastructure. This shows that he has linked his school work with the industry he is interested in and where he wants to work in the future.

Nanumea started with his work placement in Year 12 and with support from the school, he followed his interest in muscle cars. He secured a spot at G & H, a private training provider in Petone, doing an automotive course, all the while earning NCEA credits. He had a go at panel beating and mechanics and as a result of what he learnt, Nanumea plans to do an automotive course at Weltec next year. He wants to secure an apprenticeship too.

Rector Gerard Tully says that work placement offerings and tailored curricula which include a wide and more relevant choice with better links to industry is helping keep students at school longer. “And research shows the longer students stay in education, the more success they will have in life.”

“When students study subjects in areas which are relevant and interesting to them, then they are much more likely to stay at school and remain engaged with their learning”, says Arthur Graves, the Ministry of Education’s Group Manager for Youth Guarantee.

“Having a minimum of NCEA Level 2 also means students are well-prepared to undertake further training, study or work, as they have a solid foundation to build on.”

Gerard also says that these ‘non-traditional’ choices make no difference to the students’ experience of school in the pastoral sense: “Camaraderie is an important part of this school. Students are proud to be ‘Streamers’. The guys that do the Trades Academy or work placements are still part of the school. They can play rugby for the school team and go to the Year 13 Ball.”

There are not many New Zealand schools more steeped in tradition than Silverstream’s St Patrick’s College but to stay relevant, Gerard says the way boys are educated must change, especially when targeting better results for Pasifika students.

“As a school we’ve identified the need to raise Pasifika student achievement and we are working hard to address this through curriculum offerings.

“We are supporting Pasifika families to see how the system can work for their children because we know parental involvement is key.”

Gerard believes another key to success is relationships.

“You need to treat people differently to get the same result. Research shows us strong relationships between teachers and students improve learning outcomes.

Gerard believes this is particularly important for Pasifika students.

“What I have found, is if students get on with their teacher, respect that teacher and know that that teacher cares and wants the best for the student, we will get better results. It’s about knowing your learner, creating a respectful relationship, and understanding motivations,” he says.

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