KEY POINTS:
National leader John Key has promised to establish five specialist "trade academies" in the next three years as part of a push to boost trades in schools.
Mr Key made the announcement today at south Auckland's Southern Cross Campus, which provides services to four decile one schools in the area.
He said the campus would be the first to benefit from National's policy - to the tune of $6 million capital funding.
Another four of the centres would be funded in the first term of a National-led government.
Mr Key described the trade academies as "centres of excellence" that would help put trades and training "back into the heart" of the school system.
He said schools and teachers were hunting for ways to keep students engaged, while at the same time businesses were crying out for better-skilled workers.
"I believe we can get a lot more young Kiwis interested in school, and achieving more while they're there, if we offer them something practical and something that might lead to a job they can be passionate about.
He said the funding for Southern Cross Campus would give it the technology facilities it needed to create "apprenticeship pathways" for the students.
The centre caters for around 1750 primary, intermediate and high-school age children.
"They want to work with local employers, Manukau Institute of Technology, and other tertiary providers and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to provide school pupils with specialised trades training in fabrication, armed services, tourism, business, creative design, and hospitality."
Mr Key also used the campaign trail stop to highlight other aspects of National's trades in schools plan which includes more funding for technology facilities and lifting the number of technology teachers through a student-loan write off bonding scheme.
National has also proposed a "Youth Guarantee" - a policy that would provide funding for anyone under 18 not in school or a job to undertake courses that contribute towards school level qualifications.
Labour has also promised to boost trades and introduce apprenticeships into schools through its Schools Plus policy.
- NZPA
