Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Minister for Tertiary Education
30 August 2006 Media Statement
More work experience for students under Gateway
More senior school students will gain valuable hands-on workplace experience next year with another 92 schools joining
the successful Gateway programme, Minister for Tertiary Education Michael Cullen announced today.
"Since Gateway was launched as a pilot in 2001, it has gone from strength to strength with 13,000 students already
having gained valuable skills," Dr Cullen said. "Next year almost 9,000 students from 298 schools will be on board,
representing three quarters of all state and integrated secondary schools.
Budget 2006 provided additional funding of $8.1 million (GST exclusive) over four years to expand Gateway opportunities
to all decile 7-10 state and integrated secondary schools. Total funding for Gateway will be approximately $21 million
(GST exclusive) in 2008/09.
"The expansion of Gateway is great news for students and businesses. The scheme helps students to make better career
choices and employers to identify the talent of tomorrow. Over 6,000 businesses are already offering workplace learning
to Gateway students.
"Last year 27 per cent of students participating ended up being directly employed while another 57 per cent went on to
further secondary or tertiary study. That's a great result.
"Gateway builds on other initiatives such as Modern Apprenticeships which recently celebrated the 2000th apprentice to
complete training. It underlines the many measures this government is taking to address skills shortages.
"Gateway is helping New Zealand produce more people with the skills needed to transform this country into a high-wage,
knowledge-based economy. I encourage all businesses and schools not currently participating in Gateway to take advantage
of this opportunity,” Dr Cullen said.
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Background information:
The Gateway programme integrates schools-based learning with structured workplace learning for senior students (Years
11-13) at state and integrated secondary schools. It provides young school leavers with better learning and work-ready
habits, increased employment opportunities, and enhanced knowledge about the workplace and its expectations and
requirements of people entering the industry.
For more information on Gateway: http://www.tec.govt.nz/funding/training/gateway.html
ENDS