Bridging the Gap Between Secondary and Tertiary Learning

Funding Stories

The Turning Point Bridge is a programme that helps secondary school students set a positive life trajectory before they leave school.

The project, funded by the Otago Polytechnic, Richard Joseph and Associates, and the Otago Community Trust, now involves 15 Otago secondary schools.

The two day programme helps year 12 and 13 students bridge the gap between school and beyond. It examines their skills and passions, looks at career options and the job market, outlines what is required of high demand jobs, and looks at the opportunities and challenges that exist in tertiary education. The course also covers the cost of study and explains the student loan process.

Co-ordinator Michael Simmons said studies show that many students have made tertiary study choices without understanding the impact on their career and the cost – in fact half said they would chose different study options given the chance again. “Our feedback is that taking time out of school work to think about what they need to do to get to where they want to be is a valuable experience for students beginning to plan out their life.”