Understanding Youth Guarantee funding
These youth courses are free to eligible students and apply to Level 1-2, and are typically aligned with the Vocational Pathways. Developed by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Pathways show how NCEA standards connect to broad areas of employment. They help students and their families see how their achievements align with job and study options. You can read more about the topic here.
To be eligible for Youth Guarantee funding you need to be aged 15 (with an ELX) or between 16-24 at the time of commencing study, and must not have completed higher level qualifications. Priority is given to learners who are new to tertiary study, and to existing students wishing to progress onto a higher level course.
An Early Leaving Exemption (ELX) is an approval from the Ministry of Education for your 15 year old child to be exempt from enrolment at a school. The process is designed for those young people who need to leave school before the age of 16, which is the age they are required to be engaged with compulsory education. You can read more about the topic here.
Once eligibility has been established, students are selected by interview. Selection is based on a number of things including age, how suitable the course is for the student’s goals, attitude to learning, ability to function in an adult environment and fit in with existing groups, as well as committing to attending, course achievement and a pathway to employment or further education.
EmployNZ offers a wide range of youth courses in Tauranga, Rotorua, and Whakatāne. You can find them here.