A group of students who signed up for a plumbing course at training institute NZMA in Auckland have staged a protest, alleging broken promises of jobs and that they haven't been given proper tools to work with.
Today (Tuesday) they rallied outside the NZMA Trades Campus on Great South Road waving handwritten signs, Seven Sharp reports.
"I am feeling ripped off at this point," one student said.
Another said: "I came here almost a hundred per cent sure of a job. I found out that's not true at all."
The students on the street claimed the rest of their plumbing class were being bribed to stay inside and not join the protest, by offers of free treats from an ice cream truck, and sports.
Those who were protesting were also angry at the dismissal of their tutor, Spiro Kumar.
"He's the best tutor there, I reckon. And then they just get rid of him," a protester said.
But they say there are other, more serious, issues at NZMA.
"They promised me that by the end of this course they'd put me into an apprenticeship. That's the reason that I signed up," another student said.
“Nobody is guaranteed an apprenticeship or employment
NZMA Trades Campus says the allegations are untrue, lack context, and are motivated solely by the dismissal of Spiro Kumar.
Rejecting numerous requests to sit down and talk about it on camera, NZMA sent Seven Sharp written responses.
To the charge of false promises of jobs or apprenticeships, NZMA chief executive Mark Worsop said in a statement that NZMA connects students with potential employers but, "nobody is guaranteed an apprenticeship or employment".
The students say they have no appropriate tools almost 10 weeks into a 20-week course, after they were told the tools would come after eight days.
Mr Worsop responded: "The students' personal tool packs arrived in advance of the practical course getting underway."
Students also say there's a 'bums-on-seats, profit-above-all' attitude at NZMA.
"When I was recruited here, they said if I've got a mate, and I enrol them here too, give them a recommendation, they'll give me $500. Do whatever I want with it on a Prezzy card," a student said.
Mr Worsop said in the statement: "This is a referral fee and an accepted strategy for similar institutions worldwide to support recruitment efforts."
The students did find an ice cream truck parked at the trades campus, behind locked gates.
But Mr Worsop said NZMA runs barbecues regularly for its students and tutors and, "this ice cream truck was planned well in advance of the protest".
After finding the ice cream truck, the protesters entered the school, but when reporter Tim Wilson asked if he could go in he was told by a staff member, "Unfortunately not, sorry. This is an employment issue."
The ice cream truck drove out of the premises while Seven Sharp was filming.
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