Celebrating EIT’s new primary teaching degree are (centre, from left) Taradale Intermediate
School principal Dennis Coxon, EIT Head of School for Education and Social Sciences Gwenda Kevern and Frimley School principal Malcolm Dixon.
Students are, clockwise from left, Imani Hollis, Nieve Ellery, Lewis Hall,
Bella Alexander-Kemble, Alice Jones, Marcus Sisam, Frankie Foote and Maddison Connell.

The New Zealand Teachers’ Council and NZQA approved and accredited New Zealand’s first undergraduate practice-based primary teaching degree after visiting EIT to assess the programme.

Strong interest has been shown in the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary). By mid-November, EIT’s School of Education and Social Services had offered places to 27 applicants for next year’s first intake of 30 candidate teachers.

Head of School Gwenda Kevern says the ages of potential students ranged from 18 to 46 and one third of the applicants were male.

The impetus for a Hawke’s Bay degree came from principals of four local primary schools who approached EIT with the proposal. Wideranging consultation followed, giving the community a real voice in shaping the degree.

EIT will be the first institute of technology in New Zealand to offer the degree.

Students enrolled in the full-time three-year programme will spend two days a week at EIT and two days at schools partnering up with EIT for the training programme – Te Mata School, Havelock North Primary School, Frimley School, Arthur Miller School, Taradale Intermediate School and Tamatea Intermediate School.