'Child labour!' Schoolboy 'was forced to fix teachers' cars as part of his coursework' before learning it didn't count towards his final grade
- Mother slammed her son's high school for making him work on teachers' cars
- Alica Evans said her 16-year-old son Jayden Fraser spent a year staying back
- He spent hours of his free time repairing cars and priming and painting them
- Ms Evans said none of it reflects in his academic record and he's now behind
A furious mother has slammed her son's high school for making him work on teachers' cars as part of his 'coursework' because it didn't count towards his final mark.
Alica Evans said her 16-year-old son Jayden Fraser spent an entire year staying back to work for his teachers at Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Hoping to one day become a mechanic, Jayden spent weeks 'practising' for his future career by priming and painting a teacher's car last year.
This year he, along with a group of students, spent hours of their free time working on two other cars.
Alica Evans said her 16-year-old son Jayden Fraser (pictured) spent an entire year staying back to work for his teachers at Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch
However, his National Certificate of Educational Achievement record doesn't show the work as a type of formal assessment.
Ms Evans told Stuff that Jayden and his friends worked on a derby car for one staff member ahead of a race, and they also worked on a rolling chassis that was purchased by a teacher for $350.
The teacher applied for school funding but was rejected, and demanded the boys pay her back for the car.
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Jayden and his friends managed to raise $100 through a car wash, which was given back to the teacher.
'My son literally spent the entirety of last year working and staying late and he got nothing,' Ms Evans said.
'Either he gets the credits he deserves or he needs to be paid, otherwise it's child labour.'
Ms Evans said she believed Haeata Community Campus would be perfect for 16-year-old Jayden as he is less academic.
Hoping to one day become a mechanic, Jayden spent weeks 'practising' for his future career by priming and painting a teacher's car last year (pictured: Haeata Community Campus)
She was told he would receive the 80 credits needed to pass Level 1 by July 5, but doesn't believe this is possible as he is currently behind.
The 16-year-old has only received eight credits for building a toilet roll holder.
Principal Andy Kai Fong said some 'overly costly' projects caused students to fundraise to enhance their learning.
Mr Kai Fong said he was disappointed Ms Evans had alerted the media about what was happening with her son.
Education Ministry deputy secretary Katrina Casey said that students working on cars could foster problem-solving and collaboration skills, increase knowledge of mechanics and apply mathematics and other academic subjects.
However, she said not all learning would be assessed or have credits attached.
The education ministry website says schools don't cover fees of materials used, but allowed students to 'take on fundraising to supplement what the school can provide'.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Haeata Community Campus for comment.
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