Teen Wairarapa students lead the way

TOP OF THE CLASS: Wairarapa students are leading the country in diligence and success under a government-funded programme for teenagers. PHOTO/FILE

Youth Guarantee students at UCOL Wairarapa have some of the highest qualification and course completion rates in New Zealand, according to the latest figures from the Tertiary Education Commission.

The teens, aged from 16 to 19, study on a fees free scholarship under the Youth Guarantee Scheme.

Angela Hewitt, UCOL Wairarapa campus manager, said there were 29 full-time equivalent students on Youth Guarantee courses at the Masterton campus last year, with 36 students awarded scholarships under the government-funded scheme, which applies only to courses in trade and non-trade disciplines up to Level 3.

She said the scheme allowed study for up to two years "but most of our students stay a year because of what we offer".

Ms Hewitt said Youth Guarantee had been available at the Masterton campus for the past three years and this year's students were "on track" to post similar rates of course and qualification completion, student retention and progression to higher level study.

Of those four metrics, UCOL had topped the table at 77 per cent for qualification completion and placed second best at 80 per cent in course completion across all three of its campuses in Masterton, Palmerston North and Whanganui.

Ms Hewitt said qualification completion rates among those students was 90.6 per cent in trade courses and 82.3 per cent in non-trade courses.

The completion rate overall was 86.5 per cent.

Of the Youth Guarantee students last year, she said, 40 per cent were Maori.

Ms Hewitt said 41 Youth Guarantee students were currently in UCOL Wairarapa classes that included early childhood education, hairdressing, automotive engineering, business administration, health science and baking and cookery.

"The courses have to be a certain length and a certain level to qualify for funding under the Youth Guarantee framework, and this year most of those students were still here because if they are on a six-month programme, most are doing two of those in the one year," she said.

"We didn't have quite as many Youth Guarantee students last year as we do now.

"We've got more places this year and more students, and we're on track for the same completion and qualification rates again - and that's great news."

The 2014 results from the Tertiary Education Commission cover 168 students across the three UCOL campuses in Masterton, Palmerston North and Whanganui and "reflect their strong commitment to gain qualifications, particularly those with vocational and practical skills, outside of school", UCOL chief executive Leeza Boyce said.

"It is fantastic to see young people serious about their study and who are committed to stick with it and complete their qualification.

"We are very proud of our youngest students, and of our staff who are dedicated to supporting them into adult education.

"To have the highest results also speaks volumes about UCOL and the young people we have in these programmes."

The number of Youth Guarantee students had increased year-on-year at each of the three UCOL campuses, Ms Boyd said, and the organisation had one of the largest groups of those fees free students in the country.