Government exceeds Modern Apprenticeships target
Media Statement by Hon Steve Maharey, Wellington 7 August 2002.
The Government's flagship Modern Apprenticeships programme has exceeded expectations, with new figures showing more than 3,000 young New Zealanders are now signed up under the scheme.
Speaking at the Industry Training Federation Conference in Wellington today, Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey released figures showing that there were 3,254 Modern Apprentices in training at 30 June 2002. This represents a 23% increase over the past three months.
"We have exceeded our target of having 3,000 young people in Modern Apprenticeships training this year.
"This is a significant milestone and sets us firmly on the path to achieve our next target - doubling the number of Modern Apprentices to 6,000 by December 2003.
"Over half of the Modern Apprentices (1,972) were aged 18 or younger when they started their training. It's good to see that one of our key aims for Modern Apprenticeships - of getting young people back into industry training - is being so well achieved.
"Figures for this quarter also show a 20% increase in the number of young Maori taking up Modern Apprenticeships. This brings the number of Maori involved to 536.
"All around the country, I meet both Modern Apprentices and employers who are enthusiastic and committed to this programme. The structured training path and assistance provided by the Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinators really helps trainees to achieve and, in the case of industry, to solve their own skill shortage problems.
"I congratulate everyone involved in building the Modern Apprenticeships success story. This includes the 27 industry groups already involved, the 47 Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinators, Skill New Zealand and, of course, the 3,254 young apprentices themselves," Steve Maharey said.
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