St Helena : Students On Work Experience
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 16.07.2003 (Article Archived on 30.07.2003)
A number of Year 11 Students from Prince Andrew School are working in Government Departments.
Students on Work Experience in SHG
A number of year 11 students from Prince Andrew School are working in Government Departments so that they can gain useful work experience. Some have also been placed in the private sector.
The Personnel Department established the work experience scheme in 1998 and ran it for two years but they have not been able to fund the scheme since then. The scheme is now being managed by the Employment and Social Security Department who took the view that students should be given the opportunity to gain work experience rather than just receiving unemployment benefits. They are all entitled to the benefits but have a choice of participating in the scheme on not, and have been encouraged to do so.
This year’s programme commenced on 7 July and will run for six weeks, this being the time that many students are awaiting examination results before they return to school. Students have been placed in an area whey they can gain an insight into the work they are interested in.
Cynthia Bennett, Interviewing Officer from the Employment and Social Security Department said that the purpose of this scheme is to provide students with an experience of what it is like to be in the work place, and for them to be able to gain knowledge, confidence and to show departments and employers their potential. This will also prove useful when students leave school and apply for a job, as the work experience will be something they can include on their curriculum vitae.
A major benefit of the scheme, is that at the end of the six weeks, students will have a better idea of whether this is the type of career they would want to pursue.
A total of 30 students are participating in this year’s programme.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
9 July 2003
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