from YAPRap June 2006
The NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, and Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt have announced an initiative that will allow HSC students to complete school-based apprenticeships one day a week.
Under the plan 10 stand-alone trade schools will be established over the next twelve months, mostly in Western Sydney at a cost of $18 million. Western Sydney is an area of NSW that is facing a major skill shortage in trades. The first trade school will open at Colyton High School.
Students will be able to undertake industry standard training in subjects such as hospitality, health care, construction, automotive and engineering. In this way students will gain a trade qualification while completing their HSC.
The plan will be an expansion of vocational education and training (VET) program in schools. Currently at least 30% of HSC students choose at least one VET course for their HSC.
YAPA has applauded the move.
YAPA has been calling on the NSW Department of Education & Training for more initiatives that provide students with opportunities to reach their full potential. YAPA has previously called on the Department to:
- expand opportunities for students to combine work, TAFE and study options
- expand subject choice to meet the diverse needs and interests of students
- ensure a mixture of academic and practical job orientated subjects.
(see School's cool???)
YAPA believes this plan will be a major step forward in keeping "at risk" young people in school and in further training and employment.
