Alt Ed opens up new job options

Alternative education is taking a leap forward with the opening of a new classroom.

Nga Rangatahi Toa School of Creativity has opened at Manukau Institute of Technology in Otara.

It’s the first of its kind in New Zealand and aims to give youth who have dropped out of school a second chance.

Executive director Sarah Longbottom says a lack of Government funding makes it difficult to operate but Warehouse Stationary has stepped up to provide learning materials such as laptops, a printer, tablets and craft materials.

‘‘It is only by going to the private sector that we can provide our most marginalised young people anything that resembles what students enjoy in a mainstream classroom,’’ Longbottom says.

‘‘On the standard Government contract from the Ministry of Education most alternative education classrooms struggle to pay teachers, let alone provide teaching, internet and any resources.’’

The new hub of ‘‘innovation’’ is the beginning of a five-year project.

Longbottom hopes to establish Nga Rangatahi Toa as a mainstream ‘‘school of special character’’.

‘‘It is our first classroom for a core group of 10 high-engagement rangatahi and for around 60 rangatahi in our arts access programmes.’’

The students are aged 14 and 15 and have started an intensive eightweek creative arts programme.

During the course they will work with top artist mentors to explore issues of social justice and personal development through music, visual arts and performance art.

Nga Rangatahi Toa graduate Neville Rakena dropped out of school in Mangere when he was 14.

He is now a teacher aid at Stanhope School in Mt Wellington.

‘‘I didn’t know where to start until I got guided in the right way. I was feeling like a loser, a high school drop out,’’ the 18-year-old says.

‘‘I didn’t have the support I have today.

‘‘When I came to NRT I was told I was unique and to be confident in yourself.

‘‘I will never regret that choice of taking the teaching job. I enjoy it, it doesn’t feel like work and I’m surrounded by kids. They call me Mr Neville.’’

‘‘I help them with handwriting, reading and maths.’’