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<h2>School leavers should be encouraged to head into vocational training and trades, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has urged.</h2>
<p>The Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Awards were launched at Hutt Valley High School and follows last week’s announcement of comprehensive reforms to the vocational education system.</p>
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<p>“For too long trades and on-the-job skills training has played second fiddle in how we see success at school and later career choices,” Jacinda Ardern said.</p>
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<p>“Going to university will always be a great way to further your career but vocational careers are equally as important, particularly given the huge skills shortages that exist across many industry sectors.</p>
<p>“This award celebrates achievement in vocational education in secondary schools and wharekura. It will, I hope, send a strong message about the value this government places on vocational education and encourage new generations of students and their families to recognise the exciting <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/2015/10/developing-opportunities-at-school-with-a-view/" title="opportunities" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" target="_blank">opportunities</a> it presents.</p>
<p>“Secondary schools and wharekura can apply for a prize of $2000 to be awarded to their top vocational student. Funding is available for every secondary school in the country.</p>
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<p>“We’re encouraging secondary schools to apply as soon as they can and include this award in their prize-givings for 2019.</p>
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<p>Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand needs more apprentices and people training for industry jobs.</p>
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<p>“We want students, with the help of whānau and teachers, to be planning their learning more strategically – to create clear pathways for themselves through school and on to further study, training or jobs in the workplace,” Jacinda Ardern said.</p>
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<p>Vocational education is learning that has a special emphasis on the skills needed to do a specific job, or work in a specific industry.</p>
<p>The launch of the award comes a week after Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced Government decisions to comprehensively reform vocational education.</p>
<p>“Vocational education, trades training and on-the-job training have been allowed to drift for too long. These are long-term challenges that this government is committed to fixing,” Chris Hipkins said.</p>
<p>“We are strengthening the vocational education and training system and unifying it to respond better to the needs of New Zealand learners and employers.</p>
<p>“The changes will deliver more opportunities to improve people’s skills, no matter where they are in their education or career and support a growing economy that works for everyone.</p>
<p>“We’re also making significant changes to the NCEA to create strong pathways towards the trades and other vocational careers, and are well-underway with a redesign of the careers system to provide much better support in schools, much earlier in the lives of students,” Chris Hipkins said.</p>

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