Eleven ākonga funded through the government Youth Guarantee programme were recognised at a completion ceremony held in Te Puna on Tuesday.
“The ceremony was to celebrate the achievements of our Youth Guarantee students as they complete their programmes in Bridging Education and Trades,” says Youth Guarantee Student Advisor, Duzan Castellanos.
“It’s a chance to recognise their hard work, growth, and determination as well as the support and guidance provided by our Unitec whānau who have been part of their journey.”
According to Mr Castellanos, around twenty-five students funded by Youth Guarantee study with us each semester.
According to Youth Guarantee Lead, Byron Iosia, the retention rate of this year’s cohort was very strong at 96%, which he attributed to the strong wrap around support that Unitec offers.
“Ten of our students will be continuing their study with us in 2026,” Byron says.
“We have four enrolled in our degree programmes for next year while some will go directly into employment.”
The scheme was introduced in 2010 and was originally aimed at providing free study for teenagers who dropped out of school with little or no qualifications.
The initiative now covers New Zealand citizens and permanent residents aged from 16 to 24 years old to access foundation learning without paying course fees.
It is designed to ensure that young people, for whom the school system is not a good fit, have chances to participate in tertiary education regardless of their circumstances.
Charli Wales de Wijk, 17, completed the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 3) and has now enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) for next year.
Charli came to Unitec from Mt Albert Grammar at the start of the year after finding out about Youth Guarantee from a school advisor.
“The programme introduced me to a whole lot of people who helped me navigate the challenges of studying.
“I love working with people in general and especially children. Unitec gave me the space and freedom to find my place and the people here were so supportive guiding me along my study pathway.”
Mr Castellanos says Charli was very disciplined during her studies and was involved in all activities of the programme.
Our Youth Guarantee team provides monthly lunches and activities with their students and guest speakers are occasionally brought in to keep them motivated and engaged in their studies. Unitec’s support services also have regular catchups with the students.
“There is a high need in the community for youth support and programmes of this kind to help provide opportunities for our young population who are not in school, not working, and not engaging in any productive activities,” says Mr Iosia.
“Every semester, we see many youths come to us with no confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, and have had a negative experience with the educational system. At the end of their journey with us, they are a totally new person.”
Duzan says there are many successful outcomes for Youth Guarantee graduates going on to further studies at Unitec or another tertiary institution, or employment.
