EC2 - September 2014 EC2 - September 2014 | Page 4

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TERTIARY

Joanna Mathers looks at a new programme which connects secondary school teachers with industry experts
Good results at secondary school level
can be an important marker for subsequent
success in the workplace. But while it’s
important for students to make the most
of the educational opportunities offered
to them, academic success isn’t the only
factor prospective employees look for when
hiring school leavers.
Most young New Zealanders (around 71 per
cent) don’t engage in tertiary education,
and many leave school with little sense of
what is expected of them in the work environment. Anecdotal evidence points to the
fact that many of these school leavers lack
the life skills and knowledge required by
employers.
The disconnect between educational
and work place expectations has created
a culture of youth underemployment that
remains problematic. The most recent statistics from the New Zealand Household
Labour Force Survey reveal that there’s
been a year on year NEET rate rise of 18 per
cent – (this represents young people not in
employment, education or training).
Amanda Wheeler is the CEO of youth
employment charity Workchoice Trust. She
has firsthand knowledge of the frustration
felt by employers around the lack of work
preparedness found in recent graduates.
“There’s a distinct gap between what
employers want and what educators think
they want, and young people are paying
the price,” says Wheeler. “We need to

get both parties on the same page to help
today