Technology scholarships

Technology teachers are currently in great demand in New Zealand secondary schools.  To help meet this demand TeachNZ has increased the number of technology scholarships for 2008 and introduced a new category for ‘career changers’.  The two other technology scholarship categories are school leavers/undergraduates and graduates.

The application form which can be downloaded below has comprehensive information on a range of questions including:
• the technology subjects taught in secondary schools
• the technology-related degrees which are relevant for a scholarship (useful reference for school leavers, undergraduates and graduates)
• specific information for career changers. *

* some of the information for career changer pathways has been updated since the form went to print and is outlined in the following information.

Career changers with degree or level 7 qualification

If you already have a level 7 qualification in a technology-related field plus three years of relevant work experience, you only need to complete an approved 1-year secondary teacher qualification.

Career changers with a level 6 qualification

If you already have a level 6 qualification in a technology-related field plus three years of relevant work experience, you need to complete a degree (level 7) and an approved secondary teacher qualification (normally a 2-year timeframe).

Career changers with a level 5 qualification

NZQA has recently reassessed the level of some of the trade qualifications and as a result we now find that some of the information on the application forms regarding qualifications is out of date and no longer correct.

This information seeks to explain in more depth the requirements for those people who are considering entering teaching from the traditional “trades” background – builders, plumbers, electricians and similar tradespeople - and people with NZ Certificates.

NZQA has recently reassessed the NZ Certificate (Building, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architectural Draughting) and the Advanced Trade Certificate and deemed them to be at level 5. NZQA only assesses qualifications and does not take into account a person’s work experience.

However some polytechnics and universities (such as Waikato University) are allowing people with trades qualifications and appropriate work experience, direct entry into a one-year level 7 diploma in a technological area.  These people can then complete a graduate diploma in teaching.  As they can do this in two years they can apply for the career changer scholarship.

Contact your provider of choice for information about your entry level in relation to meeting the scholarship criteria.