Future foresters

Gisborne secondary schools are taking advantage of the flexibility that NCEA offers and incorporating forestry as a subject in the school curriculum.

The forestry industry is set to provide a major boost to the local economy in the next five years and teachers, students and parents are enthusiastic about preparing students to benefit from new jobs.

Forestry as a career option. This group of Gisborne Girls’ High School students last year toured Juken Nissho’s sawmill, two months after some of their schoolmates took part in a two-week pilot programme during which they explored opportunities within the industry.

Last year Gisborne Girls' High School students took part in a two-week pilot programme organised by training organisation Turanga Ararau. The pilot involved six days of practical work and two days of field trips covering career opportunities in the forestry industry.

This year Gisborne Girls' and Gisborne Boys' High Schools and Campion College are working with Turanga Ararau to incorporate forestry into the school curriculum giving students the chance to complete the National Certificate in Forestry Foundation Skills (level 2).

Henry Mulligan, forest industry liaison manager and co-ordinator of the Turanga Ararau secondary schools programme, said the target group would be those students wanting to develop the practical and technical skills within the forest industry.

"They will be getting hands-on experience, pruning with loppers and chainsaws, and observing harvesting and wood processing operations in the district," Mr Mulligan said.

Gisborne Girls' High careers head Penny Clarke said the school was excited about the project.

"It is a first for both Turanga Ararau and Girls' High," she said.

"There is strong interest from the girls and we are selecting students who will be role models and career movers and shakers in the forest industry to take part in this programme."

Campion College principal Paul McGuinness said the school was pleased to be in partnership with Turanga Ararau in the delivery of the level 2 forestry course.

"The focus of the programme is centered around possible management careers in forestry," Mr McGuinness said.

Students take the course in conjunction with a standard school programme.

"The introduction of the NCEA has allowed us the opportunity to include credits gained in forestry towards the NCEA level 2 qualification.

"Next year with the delivery of credits at level 3, students will be able to credit the forestry course towards their university entrance qualifications if they want to," Mr McGuinness said.

"The programme gives a foundation for students to either move into the Diploma in Forestry qualification or to a degree programme at university. Forestry is considered as an applied science."

"It would not have been possible to introduce the course this year without the willingness and flexibility of Turanga Ararau to accommodate school needs," he said.

"It is as a result of their adaptability that we have been able to offer the course without compromising other school subject courses. This has meant a number of future pathways remain open for students to explore. They are able to assess their interest in forestry without reducing other career options."

Mr McGuinness said the students had received the programme very positively and it offered a good mix of practical with theoretical aspects of forestry.

"This course is a good example of the way schools, educational institutions and industry can join to help meet student curriculum need," he said.

Noel Craft, Gisborne Boys' High School careers adviser, said the experience past students had had with Turanga Ararau and the positions they now held in the industry made it clear forestry was an attractive career option for fit, clear-thinking young people.

"Our boys can see the opportunities in the forest industry and the steps you can take to gain management positions," he said. "We will be selecting enthusiastic students to participate in this programme."