Akongoue Pasifika Horticulture Programme
NZ Sports Turf, Tongan Youth Trust, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Agriculture & Investment Services launched the Akongoue Pacific Horticulture programme on 16th March with an opening ceremony at the Up skills Facility in Mangere. Wesley students did us proud introducing themselves and leading the hymns at the service. This was of course followed with some delicious kai.
Ten Wesley students will commence the year long course next Wednesday along with students from 5 other schools. They will be picked up from school in the morning and delivered back to school at the end of the school day. They have both classroom learning and workplace learning and have the opportunity to earn up to 35 Level 3 unit standard credits towards an NZ certificate in Horticulture and at Level 2, 45 unit standard credits towards an NZ certificate in Primary Industry Skills. Students are expected to catch up on work they have missed in class on a Wednesday, and the Tongan Trust are providing mentors to assist students with this.
This programme will introduce a range of STEM subjects including:
- Practical horticulture (health and safety, planting, harvesting, packing/grading)
- Biodiversity/security, green technologies and sustainability
- Engineering related technologies
- Business, sales, marketing and digital technologies
- Manufacturing, logistics and research and science.
Students will also earn industry credentials such as Site Safe, Growsafe, First Aid, Forklift and Tractor operations.
It is a fantastic opportunity and I wish the students all the very best in learning about this industry and the employment opportunities it can offer.
Mrs Natasha Jeffery
Gateway Co-ordinator