15 Oct 2009

Govt to announce new trade academies

9:20 am on 15 October 2009

The Government is to announce on Thursday the first five schools and tertiary institutions that have succeeded in bids to establish trade academies.

It's also decided to extend the scheme and begin developing plans for a further six academies.

The Government says the academies will work as partnerships between schools, tertiary institutions, industry training organisations and employers.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says 16 and 17 year olds will have more career choices through trades and technology programmes, which will give them practical, hands-on vocational skills while still at school.

The Government says 113 institutions expressed interest in becoming trade academies.