Job-seeking skills boosted by course

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 9

Job-seeking skills boosted by course

By

JENNY LONG

A Christchurch programme for high school pupils which bolsters self-esteem and offers jobseeking skills has wide community support, from the Prime Minister to teachers and students.

The Pitcaithly House Vocational Centre runs

student courses which vary in length from three days to two Weeks. Most students opt for the longer courses.

The centre’s co-ordina-tor, Mrs Carole Flight, says Pitcaithly develops career awareness. “We get our students to have a realistic look at what they can do, not just what they

would like to do.” The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, on a recent visit to

Christchurch as Minister of Education, said he was "enormously impressed” with the work being done in transition to work programmes at Pitcaithly, and Christchurch schools. Transition programmes were cost-effective, and a better alternative than always relying on unemployment and Access programmes, he said. Mrs Flight says one value of Pitcaithly is that it is away from a school campus, giving pupils who are not getting on at school — “for a whole host of different reasons” — a chance in another environment. Pupils on each course come from a whole range of schools, including private, integrated, and both

single sex and coeducational.

Mrs Flight says all the pupils learn from and support each other. They appreciate the more informal atmosphere at Pitcaithly, which includes the wearing of mufti, and discussion groups rather than rows of desks and chairs. A frequent comment from pupils to tutors is, “You treat us like we’re adults. We don’t get put down.” Pitcaithly tutors work with groups of 10 to 15 pupils who are often uncertain of themselves when they arrive. Teachers give them practical help about where to find out about jobs, and also help them to build up an interview kit with references and reports to take to show potential employers. Pupils present themselves for a mock interview at the end of a week, conducted by volunteers such as retired principals or employers who help at the centre. A debriefing lets pupils know their good and bad points, and 20 suggestions on how to improve. Social survival skills, such as how to get on with

others, flatting, and budgeting are some of the

topics pupils take for the second week. The three-day course, generally for more senior pupils, is called an asser-

tiveness course, and aims to develop communication skills. Mrs Flight said participants could be anybody from the school bully, to a victim of bullying.

A tight economy means that most pupils will return to school at the end

of the courses. All the pupils on the present course, however, feel they have gained confidence, and skills they will always use. Pitcaithly House was started by Hagley High School in 1979. It is now autonomous, with a separate staffing allowance. Mrs Flight feels transition programmes, and the teachers involved, should have recognised status. “We’re taking ‘at risk’ students, and the social repercussions of the programme are enormous.” An increased operating grant (at present just over $2OOO for 1000 pupils) and equipment, such as a photocopier and video, would enable teachers to be much more effective, she said.