Training centres for school-leavers likely

Press, 15 January 1985, Page 7

Training centres for school-leavers likely

PA Wellington A Government report to be released tomorrow will recommend the establishment of a network of training centres for young school-leavers. The report, from the transition education committee set up by the Minister of Employment, Mr Burke, and the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, is expected to be presented to the national summit meeting on employment to be held in March. Three Government members of Parliament who compiled the report, Mr Noel Scott (Tongariro), Mrs Margaret Austin (Yaldhurst), and Mr Trevor Mallard (Hamilton West), were asked to establish practical policies that would ensure all young people, including unemployed school-leavers, received training for jobs and adult life.

“The practical thrust of it is a suggestion that there should be a network of community training centres,” Mrs Austin told the Press Association.

“There has to be opportunity for communities to respond to their own particular needs,” said Mrs Austin.

“It has become glaringly

obvious to us that Maori youngsters, and particularly female Maori youngsters have been far more affected by unemployment than European school-leavers.

“In those areas where there is a high proportion of Maori youngsters affected, then the community has to respond in a way which is culturally acceptable,” said Mrs Austin.