Developing quality new entrants for primary industry

In 2008 the Government announced a plan to develop half a dozen national trades academies. The aim, says the Ministry of Education, is “to get young New Zealanders engaged in education and equip tomorrow’s workforce with relevant skills by linking with the wider industry training system”

In plain English – give kids the opportunity to get qualified as they learn about different trades, so they’re better prepared for the workplace.

The initiative is an excellent one.

The outcome they’re aiming for is a pool of people ready to hit the ground running in their chosen industry. Having had work experience, theory, and most importantly gained the context for their learning, national academy graduates will be able to make better job choices, and perform better in them.

The academies – depending on the eventual funding model – also address the longstanding issue of investing in people to prepare them for the workplace before they leave school.

Agriculture ITO was eager to develop an establishment plan for an academy. We saw the concept fitting well with an existing plan we had with our partners in Forestry and Horticulture training to develop a pan-industry National Certificate in Primary Industries (Level 1).

The strength of the combined Ag-Forestry-Hort proposal for a primary sector academy lies in its national scope and our strong relationships and processes for working with providers.

In a nutshell, our proposal sees trade academy students in years 11-13 (ages 16-18) enrol in a study programme that allows them to achieve dual qualifications, NCEA (school) and National Certificate (industry), at levels 1, 2 and 3.

At Year 11, the learning is mainly in school. At year 12, it’s a blend of school and workplace, with tertiary providers involved. For ag students, some residential course-work is also likely – a week or two at a place like Taratahi or Telford.

At year 13, most learning would take place through a tertiary provider and work placement.

It’s a pathway that provides opportunities for young people to gain experience in the workplace and get qualified for it, at the same time as giving them a choice as to which industry they will pursue.

A Primary Industry Trade Academy is an ideal vehicle to manage it through. The strong pathways through learning, into the workforce and on to more industry training at levels four, five and beyond are a key feature.

And perhaps best of all, because of our experience and relationships, there’d be no need to duplicate infrastructure to run it.

The joint Ag-Forestry-Hort proposal was not one of the five the Ministry initially selected.

However, we are among the six other groups the Ministry is working with as this new concept takes shape. We were recently awarded $100,000 to fully investigate the feasibility of its plans.

Either way, the NC in Primary Industries will be going ahead, and that can only have a good effect on the pool of new entrants for what are still New Zealand’s biggest export earners.

We’ve had good support in this from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – as we should. We are, after all, dealing with the future of our most important economic sector.

With good management and foresight, we should soon be laying firm foundations for the next generation of the world’s leading agriculture and forestry business managers.

Comments:

“Too many young people are leaving school too early without and skills or qualifications as they do not find the school environment suited to their needs. The academy is a positive alternative to keep these students motivated to succeed in a practical and involved way. They can build a rewarding career for themselves in the primary industries so critical to the nations economic success.”
Ian Boyd, CEO of FITEC

"Putting trade training back into secondary schools is a sound move. It is estimated today's learner will have 10-14 jobs by the time they turn 38. We must educate for change by giving young people with an interest in the outdoors the opportunity to pick up transferable skills across the land-based industries to help ensure they have multiple career opportunities".
Mike Finlayson, CE, HortITO