Latest news with #vocational
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Funding cut hurting Pacific and Maori students
In Aotearoa New Zealand, education advocates say a government decision to remove special funding for Pacific and Maori students in vocational courses harks back to the days of a one-size-fits all education model. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Funding cuts for Pacific and Maori polytech students
Pacific education 20 minutes ago Education advocates have said a government decision to remove special funding for Pacific and Maori students in vocational courses harks back to the days of a one-size-fits all education model. The funding cut applies to a per-student subsidy for Pacific and Maori enrolments at poytechnics and private training institutions. It is used to help fund dedicated support services for these students. Teuila Fuatai reports.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Staff and students fight loss of A-levels at London college helping disadvantaged learners
Teachers and students are fighting to preserve A-levels at a college that works with disadvantaged young people who have failed their GCSEs, some of whom have gone on to complete Oxbridge degrees. The sixth form college in Hackney, known as BSix, has offered one of the lowest entry requirements in the UK for pupils who want to pursue A-level courses. The entry requirement is just one GCSE pass grade. Help and support is given for exam retakes, allowing those who pass to take A-levels. The vast majority of students come from minority ethnic backgrounds. Some students have been in care, in young offender institutions or in pupil referral units. BSix has now been taken over by New City College, a large institution with campuses across east London and Essex. It has been renamed Hackney Sixth Form campus and internal proposals recommend discontinuing A-levels in favour of more vocational courses, along with dozens of redundancies, including compulsory job losses if too few staff take up voluntary redundancy. Hackney National Education Union officer David Davies described the proposals as an act of 'educational vandalism'. On Thursday staff are going on strike in protest against the proposed restructuring, the threat of compulsory redundancies and unacceptable workload. A petition has been started calling for current provision at BSix College to be protected. One current 17-year-old student said: 'I have been at other places but felt very boxed in. BSix is the first place that has really seen me as a person. I am willing to fight in any way I can to save these teachers' jobs. They are doing remarkable work.' The teachers and students have backing from Diane Abbott, the local MP, along with the rapper and activist Akala and various black academics who have come to the college to give talks to the students. The late poet Benjamin Zephaniah was also a supporter of and visitor to the college. Leanne Gayle, 28, a former student at the school who gained a 2:1 in history and politics at Cambridge before studying law. She has now secured a training contract with a top law firm. 'There was a different vibe at this place,' Gayle said. 'BSix gave me a second chance. There were so many enrichment opportunities here. A group of six of us wanted to get into Oxbridge, five of us succeeded.' Another former student, Emmanuel Onapa, 25, had previously attended a secondary school where he failed to achieve academically before moving on to BSix. 'Before I went to BSix I didn't feel seen or heard,' he said. 'Thanks to this college including enrichment programmes like the Knowledge is Power course I was able to gain a voice.' Onapa went on to gain A-levels and then attended University of Exeter where he secured a 2:1 degree and is now working as a journalist. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Staff and students fear that the Knowledge is Power course, which teaches students about their history, will be downgraded as part of the NCC reorganisation plan. But NCC denies this will happen. Akala, who has attended education sessions at the college over the years, said he has been inspired by the dedication of the teachers and resilience of the students. 'The college is in the spirit of what universal education is about,' he said. Stafford Scott, the director of Tottenham Rights community group, said: 'BSix has built a powerful legacy of working with students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been written off elsewhere and helps them reach top universities across the UK. It doesn't just teach, it believes in young people.' A spokesperson for NCC said: 'It is common for schools and colleges to periodically review the curriculum they offer and their staffing structure. A current internal review is under way with the sole purpose of driving opportunity and increasing student achievement while addressing some specific areas of low achievement at the previous BSix campus, so that local young people are not disadvantaged. 'No decision has yet been made regarding A-level provision at the campus. Whatever the outcome of the review, every student is expected to stay at the college and complete their course. We are committed to all our learners' best possible outcomes.'
CBC
18-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Starting from scratch, how Guyana is building an oilpatch workforce
'We have to train our own people,' says Clement Sankat, director of the Guyana Technical Training College
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TVET: A smart choice for a sustainable career and entrepreneurial future — Noor Aslinda Abu Seman
May 7—In our modern tech-oriented society, students face numerous challenges while selecting their education pathway beyond primary or secondary studies. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has transformed into a pragmatic choice for SPM and STPM leavers who want fast career advancement or business ownership. Technical and Vocational Education and Training as an educational approach predates new perceptions that have dramatically improved its standing. Priorly considered a substandard educational track, TVET is now a confirmed route that produces market-needed skilled graduates for various industries. So, what exactly is TVET? Students receive practical education through TVET, which covers engineering, automotive, information technology, modern agriculture, culinary arts and product design. Students within TVET gain knowledge through practical experiences within workshops and labs while working in actual industry settings. Malaysia maintains over 1,300 TVET institutions, which include Vocational Colleges, together with Polytechnics and Community Colleges, and skill institutes Giatmara and National Youth Skills Institutes (IKBN), plus technical universities Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and others within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN). Students can pursue TVET programs from certificates to bachelor's degrees at these institutions, which follow modern industries' requirements. The employment outlook for TVET graduates remains high. The overall employability rate will reach 94.5 per cent by 2024, while MARA institutions will show a surpassing outcome of 98.7 per cent annually. In 2023, the figure nearly touched 100 per cent. The swift job acquisition rate by TVET students indicates that they find employment in their fields just months after graduating, whereas typical degree graduates struggle with unemployment. The Malaysian government has started executing the National TVET Policy 2030 through initiatives for digital transformation, combined with AI and Iot developments, and by building better academic-industry partnerships. Through this policy implementation, TVET graduates maintain competitiveness across the domestic and international workforce. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visits the exhibition site in conjunction with the National TVET Day 2024 celebration at the Kuala Langat Industrial Training Institute, June 7, 2024. — Bernama pic From Skilled Talent to Technopreneurs The modern concept of TVET includes the development of skilled talent but also focuses on creating technopreneurs. Through technical entrepreneurship, educational settings encourage students to establish their jobs. UTHM enhances its technical and vocational programs by teaching entrepreneurship through innovation workshops, developing business incubators, and maintaining industrial partnerships. UTHM provides students with complete assistance for business registration as part of their graduation process. UTHM received endorsement from over 50 prominent companies such as PETRONAS, Maybank, Nestlé, and CelcomDigi to become the 'Employers' Choice of University' according to the 2025 National Graduate Employability Index released by Talentbank. Students graduating with technical knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking can launch businesses in electrical repair, automotive services, digital product design and other sectors through funding support from TEKUN, MARA and SME Corp. UTHM progresses toward its Global Technopreneur University 2030 (GTU2030) objective to become a leading technopreneurial institution by 2030. The institution plans to digitize 50 per cent of its academic programs by 2025 while applying Quadruple Helix models to encourage academic-industrial-government-community innovation collaborations. Through its GRITT framework (Global, Resilience, Innovative, Trustworthy, Talent), the university trains competitive graduates who demonstrate skill and ethical behaviour with resilience. During difficult economic times, a specific skill is a valuable advantage for people. A TVET certification is a launching point for career paths, business development, and continuous learning throughout life. High-school students who want to find their career path discover that TVET grants both a quick route to jobs that last while becoming independent and developing innovative ideas. * This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
