New face in Waiouru community education

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 509, 26 October 1993, Page 6

New face in Waiouru community education

by

Jenelle

Frewen

Marie Richards-Hodge is the new force behind community education in Waiouru, having just taken over the local co-ordination and programming role for the Wanganui Regional Community Poly-technic.

Marie is excited about the opportunities available through the Wanganui Polytechnic. "WRCP are eager to fulfil any need the community has. There is a far wider range of courses available here in W aiouru than I have e ver worked with before". "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," Marie said.

A problem which has plagued community education in Waiouru has been the lack of tutors making themselves available to take courses, especially in the area of certificated programmes such as those run through the New Zealand Institute of Management. But Marie is confident that this need no longer be a problem. "I'm sure that in a well-educated community such as Waiouru there are many suitable people who could allow others to benefit from their expertise." Marie is no stranger to adult education having worked in the field for the past six years. She hopes people will use their time in Waiouru to develop new skills and further their education. 'There is a large group of women who have followed their partners to Waiouru. They may see their posting here as just marking time but the WRCP courses can provide a means of making their stay here stimulating and perhaps profitable." Marie is also quick to point out the greatly reduced cost of studying in Waiouru, which is able through subsidies to offer courses at as low as a quarter of the cost of studying the same subject on campus in cities. The courses are available to soldiers and civilians alike and Marie will be liaisihg with the Military Studies Institute, ATG. Marie can be contacted through the MSI and she welcomes anyone with questions about the WRCP programmes, ideas for classes or suggestions regarding tutors.