Free driver licence tests for Gateway students

<h2><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Gateway trades programme students are now eligible for free driver licence tests&period;<&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">To access the scheme&comma; participating schools can book the driving test on behalf of their Gateway student&lpar;s&rpar; and cover the upfront cost&comma; which is then reimbursed by BCITO&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Eligible licences are car &lpar;Class One&rpar; applications at any level&comma; including restricted and full&period; Students are eligible for one test per year&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;latest-print-issue&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener"><b>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News<&sol;em> online HERE&period;<&sol;b><&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">BCITO Director&comma; Greg Durkin&comma; said the scheme was aimed at helping rangatahi get into employment&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;A valid driver’s licence is increasingly essential for securing apprenticeships in the building and construction industry&comma; enabling workers to get to and from their job sites easily&comma; and make pick-ups and deliveries when needed&period; However&comma; the current environment is making it tougher for young people to afford some of those incidental costs &lbrack;sic&rsqb; which is why we are financially assisting students with driver’s licence testing&period;” <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The Gateway programme is a government initiative run by BCITO&comma; an organisation which provides building and construction apprenticeships nationwide&period; Theory is run in-class and students gain practical onsite work experience&period; Students can access courses across several trades including carpentry&comma; concrete&comma; plastering and painting&period; Schools sign an MoU with BCITO to access the programme for students&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">In 2024&comma; there were a total of 564 students enrolled in the programme&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The driver’s licence fee scheme was trialled in 2024&period; Riley Betham from Sacred Heart College was one student who accessed the trial scheme&period; He said it was &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;one less expense&&num;8230&semi; to worry about”&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Betham said having the fees reimbursed motivated him to perform well on his test&comma; and he has gained more independence and the ability to help around his household&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;2025-ai-in-education-survey&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">Do you&comma; your students and&sol;or your school use generative AI&quest; Take our anonymous survey here&excl; Results will be used to inform our upcoming term two special report on AI in education&period;<&sol;a><&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;