Auckland ratepayers and charities have stepped in to help students at two low-income South Auckland schools pay for their learner driver's licences.
The Youth Connections scheme, funded by the council with the Tindall Foundation and Auckland Airport Community Trust, has given $5000 each towards learner licence training and tests at Mangere and Otahuhu Colleges.
The gesture came after "youth connector" Briar Tuialii found that not having a licence was a major barrier to South Auckland young people finding work. "The majority don't have a licence by the time they hit 18-19 and are looking for employ-ment," she said. "By then it's too late because of the length of time it takes for the graduated licence system."
The $5000 from Youth Connections plus $2900 from Auckland Transport cut the cost to students to $50. Numbers doing the course have quadrupled to 100 this year, or 25 each term.
The latest intake started their course with a close-up look at cars in the college carpark yesterday and will attend seven after-school classes before sitting their tests. All except three of the 57 who took the courses in the first two terms gained their learner licences.
