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October 07, 2022
Classes changed for night shift students
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On October 7, 2022
Download AudioThe principal of Manurewa’s James Cook High School says an alarming number of students are leaving school to get jobs because of the financial pressure on their families.
Grant McMillan says the school, which has a high Maori and Pasifika roll, also has a lot of students working part-time or even full-time night shifts.
“We’re doing all sorts of things as a Kura, as are others around us, so we’re not alone in this. We’ve got students working night shifts who start the morning with us at 10 or 11 am and we’ve modified their programmes so they can get their qualifications so those opportunities for the future remain with them. It’s frustrating, it’s sad but it’s understandable,” he says
Mr McMillan says some students are being texted during classes by labour-hire firms or fast food outlets who say if they don’t turn up for shifts during school time they will lose their jobs.
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