Education

* Invercargill City Mayor hails return of SIT as a win for students. * Government to reinstate standalone polytechnics from January 2026. * Vocational education system redesign aims to strengthen regional economies. The return of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) as an autonomous institution has sparked optimism in Invercargill. Mayor Nobby Clark,

* Sunshine brought out crowds for Telford’s 2024 graduation and street procession. * Students celebrated in style, walking through Balclutha to their graduation ceremony. * Over 330 supporters joined the event, celebrating graduates' achievements in various programmes. Telford’s class of 2024 celebrated their graduation in perfect weather on November 28

* Aparima College students won top honours at the national Young Enterprise Scheme awards. * Their business, Treet Yourself Contracting, impressed with its focus on sustainability and innovation. * The YES programme fosters entrepreneurship in secondary schools, connecting students with business leaders. Students from Aparima College in Riverton have claimed the top prize

A devastating theft has left Southland carpentry students thousands of dollars out of pocket and jeopardised their end-of-year project. The tools, essential for their training, were stolen from the workshop at Invercargill’s Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). Related: Police Seek Information Following Safe Theft The students discovered the theft

It has been a busy time for the Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust in Southland with a number of initiatives in October for Dyslexia Awareness Month. The Southland-based charity was established in 2017, and provides information, support and guidance for children, youth and adults with learning differences. Promotions and funding co-ordinator

* Sixty-five Invercargill students receive ILT scholarships for tertiary studies in 2025. * Each scholarship provides $2,000 annually, supporting academic growth over three years. * ILT celebrates funding over 900 scholarships, valuing more than $5 million to date. Sixty-five Invercargill students have been awarded ILT Tertiary Scholarships, recognising their potential and supporting

Dr Alan Bollard CNZM and Mr Bharat Guha have been appointed to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) board, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “I would like to welcome the two new members joining the TEC board,” Ms Simmonds says. “Dr Alan Bollard CNZM is an experienced public

Waiau Area School students have been involved in a new business project using their own hens to produce eggs, which they supply to the Food in Schools kitchen. The eight hyline layers were purchased from breeder Bailey Sanford of Hens at Clifden, who has been impressed with their new initiative.