Engineering, construction and hospitality courses are creating opportunities to discover new pathways to employment for students at Sanderson Middle School.

A specialised trade centre was officially opened at the school on Friday by Education Minister Lauren Moss and Member for Sanderson Kate Worden.

Offering certificate-level courses to help students become job ready at school, the trade centre was piloted last year and is now fully underway.

The program, which runs each Friday, enables students to obtain skill-set certificates worth ten credit points towards their NTCET.

Sanderson Middle School students can currently choose to study:

-          SIT20416 Certificate II Kitchen Operations (Barista Skill Set);

-          MSM10216 Certificate I Manufacturing Pathways (Skill Set); or

-          CPC10111 Certificate I in Construction (Skill Set).

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Lauren Moss:

“The Territory Labor Government supports initiatives that provide students with opportunities to develop new skills and insights into the range of jobs and career pathways on offer.

“It’s about engaging students in education and providing enriching experiences so they can make informed decisions about their future education, training and employment options.

“Although vocational education courses are usually run for students in senior years, this program has been a clear success with positive outcomes not only for the participants, but for the whole school.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Sanderson Kate Worden:

“The trade centre is a fantastic idea and full credit to Sanderson Middle School Principal, Rob McIntosh, for realising this opportunity to breathe new life into mothballed technical studies and home economic rooms.

“I have this wonderful vision of Rob throwing off the dust covers, excitedly discovering tools and equipment that he could revitalise.

“He has followed through on his plan to help students - some of whom had become quite disengaged - experience success at school.

“A number of these students have now expressed interest in expanding their learning and are interested in undertaking further Certificate I and II courses and apprenticeship opportunities at high school.”

Media contact: Jasmin Afianos – 0419 361 127