Adult course opportunities 'open up'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 436, 12 May 1992, Page 9

Adult course opportunities 'open up'

BY

JO

HOWIE

The Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic (WRCP) has appointed Jan Savell as the Programme Co-ordi-nator for Waiouru. Her job involves arranging tutors, advertising courses, taking enrolments and administering Waiouru classes. She will liaise with the Army Education Section to serve both soldiers and civilians. She will join Bev Kerr,

Julia Procter (WRCP) and Eliz Mortland (REAP), the other people co-ordinating adult education programmes in the region. Jan said she is enthusiastic about the opportunities available through the Wanganui Polytechnic. "The range of courses has opened right up. In Waiouru there are five night classes currently running. These include subjects as diverse as

patchwork quilting and NZIM Introduction to Accounting. WRCP are eager to fulfil any need the community has." "I see my role as listening to the community. I'm hoping that people will contact me with ideas for courses they would like to attend. Past students are a real help too, they talk about their class and generate continued interest in existing courses."

Jan said in the past Waiouru has had difficulty finding tutors, but she is confident that this need not be a problem. "I'm sure there are many suitable people who could be tutors out in the community. Right now we require a woodwork tutor so we're hoping someone will be suggested to us." "A course wouldn't be cancelled if we couldn't find a local tutor. The WRCP policy on distance education ensures that if necessary a tutor will travel from Wanganui at no extra cost to the course participants." Jan has a background in teaching and has been involved in adult education. She has completed three night classes in the year, has been active in the parent education side of Playcentre and tutors an introductory computing course. She has taught at a secondary school in Christchurch for five years and has received instruction from the Special Education

Service in techniques for assisting teachers. She believes this training will be of value now that she will be supporting night class tutors. She said she has a strong personal belief in the value of education, throughout life. "There is a large group of women who have fol-

lowed their partners to Waiouru and see their posting here as marking time. The WRCP courses provide a means of making their stay here stimulating and perhaps profitable."

Her position is part time and she will work from home. She welcomes questions and suggestions and any ideas about the WRCP programmes. Her phone number is 387-6237.