‘Virtual School’ proposal reaches shortlist

Mark Olsen and Susan McLay using the 3D tools.

The ‘New Zealand Virtual School’ proposal, led by the 163 student Catlins Area School, Owaka, has been short listed by the MoE to become one of five new national Trade Academies.

The Virtual School would be the first of its type; delivering vocational training to young NZers through on-line learning.

The proposal includes strong involvement by current partners South Otago High School, Blue Mountain College, Tokomairiro High School and Telford Rural Polytehnic.

The establishment of Trades Academies is designed to get young NZers more engaged in education, by delivering trades and technology programmes to school-aged students, based on partnerships between schools, tertiary institutions, industry training organisations (ITOs) and employers.

Allan Asbjorn Jon, deputy principal of the Catlins Area School, believes the need for a Virtual School option within the final Trade Academy selections is essential in order to serve the best interests of the NZ education market.

“Given the large rural population of NZ, the distances between regional centres, and the strong need for trade training opportunities within geographically remote communities, the development of the NZ Virtual School will mean that location need no longer be a barrier to learning,” he says.

Jeff Seymour, chairperson of the Clutha District Development Board, views the proposal as a very proactive move by The Catlins Area School.

“Having a Trades Academy based in the Clutha District with an emphasis on e-learning is a creative and wholly realistic response to the issues of distance learning,” he says.

“Such a development will provide further support for services already delivering in the district, and will also see a new type of visitor coming here.

For more information on the proposal, or to have input into the way it is developed, please contact the ePrincipal on 03-415 8036 or join the NZ Virtual School
Facebook group.