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Media Release
14 may for  immediate release

Education for Enterprise launched in Porirua

A recent meeting of business leaders and entrepreneurs heard about the Ministry of Education’s new approach to learning, the Education for Enterprise programme, which sees enterprise embedded into the school curriculum. Partners Porirua, which promotes education and business relationships, called the meeting to seek support from business people to share their stories with local secondary school students.

The enterprise programme is designed to teach students the skills they need to be in today’s workforce such as self management, communication skills, positive attitude and the importance of lifelong learning.  Aotea College teacher Sue Roberts told the group that teachers don’t always have the experience to add to the theory and that they need the expertise of the community to put it into practice. An enterprise programme like this will complement their Gateway programme and prepare young people for lifelong learning. Organisations like Partners Porirua can assist them with the development of the programme by bringing in supportive business owners who will share their experiences.

The group also heard the story of Neville Forman who left school at 15 but has moved on to become head of the New Zealand Maori Tourism Board. Neville told how his parents had encouraged him to take up a building apprenticeship which led to him owning his own business by the age of 20. He then “retired at 33” before becoming an enthusiastic teacher.

Many business owners at the presentation endorsed the programme but were nervous about sharing experiences that were not necessarily positive. Sue Roberts said “It’s not just about employment,  it’s meaningful learning and an opportunity to interact with real world projects in the community.” One attendee said “my story would be about rags to rags, not rags to riches!” Another business owner said he had participated last year and was more nervous than the students who were not shy about asking questions.

Partners Porirua was involved in a similar programme last year where students were challenged to write a business proposal. The winners were hosted by local personality and old boy of Mana College, Tamati Ellison,  at Wellington Rugby Union headquarters where they learnt about the business behind the sport. This year Tamati’s father, Eddie Ellison, himself a business person, is working with Partners Porirua to facilitate enterprise workshops in the local colleges with support from business people. 

Anyone who would like to share their stories of business development with the students can contact Sandie Savage at Partners Porirua on 2371099.

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