Background on Gateway

Gateway is a Government initiative funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
It has been running at Otahuhu College since 2000 and we were one of the first three schools to pilot the programme in the Manukau region.
This number has since increased and there are now 11 schools in the Manukau region taking part in Gateway.
Gateway started off on a small scale with 190 students taking part in Manukau during 2003 but this has since increased to 745 in 2006.

Gateway at Otahuhu College

Gateway offers our students the opportunity to experience structured workplace learning in Year 12 and 13.
Gateway is designed to allows us to meet the learning needs of our students through providing them with both traditional and workplace learning.
This learning assessed against unit and/or achievement standards on the National Qualifications Framework.
When integrated with their current programme of study
Gateway should be seen as an opportunity, not just work experience.

What have been the benefits for the students?

By being involved in Gateway students have had the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge they have gained in study and life experience and apply them to a workplace context.
They have been able to gain insight into working life while learning skills in specific industries.
In many cases the initiatives have given the students a head start on their chosen careers or have lead to further training opportunities such as Modern Apprenticeships and industry training.

We have been exceptionally lucky to have had support from companies in the South Auckland area and have placed students in the following areas:

• Catering
• Automotive Engineering
• Early Childhood
• Warehousing
• Primary Education
• Building
• Tourism
• Sports
• Aviation Engineering
• Hairdressing
• Fire Service
• Emergency Medicine
• Banking
• Media (TVNZ)