A world away from home

Leaving home to train at Wintec has been quite a journey for a cohort of students here for the Solomons Training Programme. They are here to gain a better level of teaching and improve employment opportunities so they can return home to the Solomon Islands with new skills to teach their students.

For most of these men, it is the first time they have left the Solomon Islands. Coming to grips with New Zealand’s colder climate, our food and cultural environment is one thing, but they are experiencing ‘new’ technology like laptops, mobile phones and washing machines for the first time.

For 12 weeks they will focus on practical project-based learning and they will also improve their English language. A language tutor accompanies the group for most of the time to give language and pastoral support each day.

This real-world teacher training programme was developed specifically for a Solomon Islands trade teaching context from another programme Wintec is delivering in the Solomon Islands.

This is the second cohort from the Solomon Islands to experience a ‘train the trainer’ programme at Wintec. Last year, 10 trainees completed a similar 12 week course.