Off-road buggies being built at Otago Polytechnic could hold
the key to a brighter future for a group of automotive
students who learn much more effectively in the workshop than
in the classroom.
Tertiary Education Minister Stephen Joyce this week visited
the polytechnic, including the mechanical and automotive
workshops where its Youth Guarantee automotive programme is
running.
The Government's Youth Guarantee initiative began this year
and aims to improve the educational achievements of targeted
16- and 17-year-olds by enabling them to take vocational
courses free of charge.
Many of the youngsters are early school-leavers, who had
limited success at secondary school.
Mr Joyce asked class representative Hamish Dawson (17)
whether he missed the school classroom.
"No," he replied.
Hamish enjoyed learning by doing.
He had gained welding and other skills which would help him
gain work in the future.
Eighteen young people are taking part in the polytechnic's
Youth Guarantee automotive scheme this year and, if they
succeed, will gain level-three national certificates in
mechanical engineering and in automotive trade skills.
Polytechnic tutor Rex Turner told Mr Joyce all the students
remained in the programme.
Mr Turner was "pretty blown away" by the advanced level of
achievement by the young students, who were learning almost
exclusively in the workshop.
The students, divided into three teams, are building three
water-cooled 250cc buggies, which are being equipped with
roll cages and seat belts.
They have to be completed by October in order to take part in
the annual Grass Kart Challenge, involving motorised karts
built at many Otago and Southland secondary schools.
- john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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