Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was full of praise for an east Auckland education business in his electorate during a visit with its tutors and students.
The MP for Botany took time out from his hectic schedule to help officially open the Skill Samurai coding and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) academy on May 24.
It provides classes in coding, programming, 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence from an academic and critical-thinking point of view.
The students collaborate on STEM activities to learn the soft skills required in a corporate environment and develop their confidence.
Luxon met with the academy’s coaches and students, learning centre director and franchisee Anand Patil, and Skill Samurai Australia/New Zealand chief executive Jamie Buttigieg.
He was given a tour and shown examples of what the students were being taught about 3D printing and robotics before helping to cut the ribbon to officially open the business.
Luxon thanked Patil and Buttigieg for what they’d built with Skill Samurai in Botany and told the young students they were lucky to have such an opportunity.
“It’s incredible what you and the amazing coaches have done so congratulations on what you’ve achieved.
“It’s so important because amongst you guys [the students] we have future doctors, future engineers, we have great computer programmers, software engineers, all sorts of things.
“It’s amazing what you guys are going to go off and do with your big brains and what you’ve learnt here at Skill Samurai, so it’s pretty awesome.”
He said he wanted the students to learn a lot about maths and robotics “and get those really good, cool jobs down the road, so that’s what it’s all about”.
“Congratulations to you guys for what you’ve built with the business.
“It’s so important and it’s awesome to see great young people getting involved and inspiring this new generation as well.
“It’s really exciting and I just wish I’d been able to do this when I was your age. I might have been doing a different job if I’d done that.
“It’s really good because we want you to get well educated and get really good at maths so you can take on engineering jobs and build rockets and do whatever you want to do.
“That’s what it’s all about. I hope you know you’re really lucky to come to a place like this where you can learn special skills.”
Buttigieg and Patil presented Luxon with a plaque in recognition of his “unwavering support of education and initiatives that empower our youth”.
