Hapaitia te ara tika pumau ai te rangatiratanga mo nga uri whakatipu
Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence, and growth for future generations.
P-TECH
Preparing ākonga (students) to succeed in education and careers.
The P-TECH network includes over 150,000 students, teachers, parents, mentors, and advocates in 28 countries across the globe. New Zealand has a ‘leaky pipeline’ where the number of ākonga learners studying math and technology subjects continues to decline year after year.
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79% of organisations reported facing recruitment of finding skilled IT workers as an ongoing concern
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Lack of diversity in the sector with only 28% females, 4.8% Māori and 4.4% Pacific peoples represented in the industry. Digital Skills for Tomorrow, Today - Digital Skills Aotearoa Report 2023
What is P-TECH?
PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY (P-TECH) is a high school/early tertiary program, developing digital skills and job ready students. It is a three-way partnership that brings together the best elements of high school, tertiary education and the professional world.
P-TECH enables students to begin their tertiary and professional lives early and with more support than the typical school-to-work pathway.
Students will graduate with a degree qualification and with the skills and knowledge they need to secure an entry-level position in Information Technology fields or continue to complete study in a higher education institution.
P-TECH Aotearoa
P-TECH links students learning to the world of work, tertiary study and entry-level jobs. Through the five-year pathway, students have access to industry mentors, workplace experiences and site visits, authentic learning opportunities and paid internships.
The P-TECH model ensures relevant curriculum content and uses a skills mapping process which makes sure skills taught are relevant to the industry, up to date and aligned with business needs.
Mentoring
Partnerships between students and industry partner employees assist in the learning and career pathways of the students. Mentors develop a trusting relationship that offers support, encouragement and work readiness. Mentors meet with the students twice a term to build relationships, develop work-ready skills and facilitate discussion.
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Mentors sign up to the program for a year with the option to follow the students year on year through the program
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30 hours per year of contact time with the students
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Mentor training day to ensure all mentors are ready to work with our people
Secondary-Tertiary Pathway
In Year Two and Three of P-TECH, students begin one day a week at tertiary. Students will complete NCEA Level 2 and 3 alongside a Level 4 Certificate in IT Essentials. A particular emphasis is made on developing the responsibility to be a tertiary student so that transition into full-time study is successful.
Tertiary Pathway
At the end of Year 13 students have the option of continuing in the P-TECH program. Those students that decide to continue, will be eligible for the paid internship program and transfer into full tertiary study at Manukau Institute of Technology to earn a degree.
P-TECH Aotearoa Partnerships
P-TECH Aotearoa launched in February 2020 with 43 Year 11 students and 22 mentors. The first P-TECH partnership was established in South Auckland, involving Aorere College, Manurewa High School, Manukau Institute of Technology, IBM, and The Warehouse Group.
With the support of IBM, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, the program expanded in 2022 to include Southern Cross Campus, Onehunga High School, Mangere College, Tamaki College, Media Design School, Spark, and ANZ Bank.
In 2025, we are excited for Papakura High School and Pukekohe High School to join the program.
P-TECH Impact
“P-TECH gives students that real-world exposure and it gives them those connections with mentors, the mentors give them a whole other perspective. It makes the curriculum come alive and makes the purpose of school really clear.” Pete Jones, Principal Manurewa High School
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350 students are currently on the P-TECH Program.
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6 Schools on the program, predominantly located in South Auckland.
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71.3% Māori and Pacific representation.
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34.1% Females representation.
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40% return on investment (Impact Lab Report).
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70.4% of P-TECH Students are transferring into full time study with MIT to continue P-TECH.
P-TECH Student Voices
“I like that we are able to share and understand other people’s opinions and wants and sharing our ones as well. Hearing other people’s voices and making sure our ones are heard is important to me.”
“P-TECH is a welcoming environment, the class is closer, and everyone works as a team. I really like being a step ahead and this will help me with my future tertiary study.”
“I see the influence Technology has on the world, in communities and everything we do. It is something I am passionate about.”
Contact us today to get involved in our P-TECH Programme