Rejected youngsters face long wait

SAM BAKER/Manawatu Standard

YEARNING FOR LEARNING: Devastated to hear she was wait-listed for the UCOL Science and Health Certificate, Palmerston North resident Asti Bennett planned a trip to Australia. When she got the unexpected call saying she was accepted, she'd made the decision to leave.

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Brayden Walden faces grim job prospects as the education system shuts him out.

He is one of hundreds of aspiring students rejected from courses as tertiary institutions crack down on enrolments.

Mr Walden was ready to start his automotive career at UCOL on Monday. Instead he's battling to find a job and has joined the dole queue.

Unemployment in Manawatu and Whanganui is at a 16-year high with more than 10,000 people without jobs.

Mr Walden said he has applied for more than 100 jobs over seven months – but no-one wants to know him.

"I've just applied for job after job but it's so hard without qualifications."

Mr Walden hoped the UCOL Certificate in Automotive Engineers would kick-start his career.

"It's a bit of a shame – it's all I wanted to do," Mr Walden said

"I'd been thinking about doing it for a while, but I always thought there'd be room."

Applicants who get their enrolments in first are given preference. Mr Walden said he only learned of his rejection when his friend, who applied three days before him, began the course.

"[UCOL] could have let me know so I could have had other things lined up."

He plans to continue his job hunt and hopes to make the second semester UCOL intake.

Other students also feel rejected from education opportunities.

Visiting her dying Grandma inspired Asti Bennett, who quit school in year 11, to study towards nursing.

Miss Bennett said the excitement of receiving a "congratulations on enrolling" letter turned to despair when she was told she was wait-listed.

"To find out I was declined – I actually cried."

When she received an unexpected call saying she had made the course she'd already planned a trip to Australia. When the trip to Australia fell through she faced a tough employment market.

"Instead of 20 people applying for jobs it's 100."

She said she feels she's been left in limbo.

"I quit my job to study and I have to have a stand-down period to go to WINZ."

There were uplifting stories too.

Students like Tamara Michelle were accepted from the wait list into her hospitality and cookery course on the second day of term.

She said she's loving the course and is relieved to get in.

- © Fairfax NZ News