This is the house that Makoura College built

BY WALT DICKSON

Forward thinking by a Makoura College teacher is proving a win-win for both a group of students and the Masterton high school.

Technology teacher Bill Taylor says he had been racking his brain for new ways to really motivate his senior BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) tech class when he came up with building a house.

Principal Tom Hullena jumped at the idea and work on the relocatable two-bedroom cottage got underway earlier this term.

"I suppose I did have a few misgivings at first, because we weren't totally sure of all the requirements of doing a project like this in a school. But they were outweighed by the thought of providing a genuine, meaningful and relevant opportunity for our young people," Mr Hullena says.

The project forms the practical component of the NCEA Level Three units for the class. Should they follow a career in carpentry this will give them a "leg in and a head start", Mr Taylor says.

While the size of the project is a first, the ten students are not daunted by it, he says.

"From my point of view it is like running a job with 10 apprentices, but unlike a commercial operation in this case there is plenty of time for teaching."

Year 13 student Ben Chase says he and his fellow would-be builders are "stoked" to be involved. Ben says he had planned to leave school at the end of last year.

"When I heard about it last year I thought I would stay, and I'm really glad I did. Hopefully now I can look at getting a trade," Ben says.

The project is also a great way to show other schools in the region what Makoura College is capable of, he says.

"We want to promote our school in a good light."

Two years ago Makoura College was threatened with closure.

Mr Hullena says the project is a step in the right direction in terms of what secondary schools need to offer young people.

"Schools need to be flexible in terms of education opportunities that they provide young people." He says the school is fortunate to have Bill Taylor, a builder, and also the support of Tumu Timber who have funded the material.

"We couldn't have offered this course without that, and we are pretty confident that we can sell the house when it is finished and pay back Tumu Timber."

Provided the interest is there the college will continue to offer this type of project in the future, but not necessarily a house.

"Maybe the community could put in some orders and we could do a few other things," he says.

"I could see it growing. We are looking at getting some of the ex-builders from the Men's Shed coming down to help in the second half of the year."

BCITO training adviser Heath McKenzie describes the project as a "mini apprenticeship". BCITO aims to use the project as a benchmark to encourage other schools to do something similar, he says.

- Wairarapa News