Female students are calling for trades classes to be offered at their Southland all-girls school.
Currently, Southland Girls High School does not offer woodwork or metalwork programmes in their school curriculum, making it difficult for students interested in learning the trade to try their hand at the subject, Stuff reports.
Southland Girls High School principal Yvonne Browning said the school is "not adverse to (offering the classes) at all" but there are issues surrounding the school's ability to do so, including funding constraints, health and safety and staffing numbers.
Ms Browning said school isn't the only area to expose female students to the trades.
"I don't think you have to be at school to be able to do it," she said. "It's not imperative to do it at school."
However, Otago Girls' High School, which has been offering hard materials courses for over two decades, says the classes are popular among students.
"We see the skills the girls develop through hard materials technology as really enhancing their educational experience with critical thinking, creativity and communication key," said principal Linda Miller.
Ministry of Education spokeswoman Pauline Cleaver said parents or caregivers can "provide feedback and input into their local school on the curriculum" and "should approach their school if they have concerns about their school's curriculum".
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