Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
2 mins ago
Ella Ralph is in her second year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT.
As a child Ella Ralph (Ngai Tahu) always dreamt of becoming a teacher and she is now on her way to achieving that through the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT.
Currently in her second year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), Ella, 19, won a Year 13 Scholarship which paid for a year of her study at EIT. The Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees.
The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.
Ella, who attended Napier Girls’ High, says that while the scholarship was an incentive to go to EIT, what sealed the deal was that the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) allows candidate teachers to spend two days per week at a partner school.
“I looked at a few different universities, but what sold it for me was that you actually work in a school for two days per week.”
Ella, says she also loves the programme.
“It’s really awesome. It’s heaps of fun and the lecturers make it really hands-on .”
“When we are in our lectures, it’s almost like we’re in a classroom. They implement heaps of things that you could use in the classroom.”
Last year Ella was placed at Te Awa Primary and this year she is at Bledisloe School.
She says that apart from the placement she also enjoys the fact that the programme allows students to connect with the community.
“We do quite a lot with the community, including visiting maraes.”
As for the future, Ella says that she is looking forward to becoming a fully-fledged teacher when she finishes her degree, but also does have ambitions to one day become either a Principal or Deputy Principal or even to work for the Ministry of Education.
She is keen on staying in Hawke’s Bay, but also would like to travel as well. As for studying further, she has not ruled that out, but would like to spend a few years practicing her craft.
Associate Professor Emily Nelson, the Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), said: “We love the energy our students bring to our programme and our educational community as Candidate Teachers.”
“We are really enjoying supporting Ella along her journey and we are looking forward to seeing where teaching takes her.”
