Apprenticeship IS Post Secondary Education

Students and parents need to understand that apprenticeship is a post-secondary education option that they can try out while still in high school. The OYAP program provides students the opportunity to accelerate their post-secondary education by allowing them to achieve competencies and log hours towards their certification while they are still in secondary school.

Statistically, only 30% of Ontario students are headed for College and University directly from high school. In Ontario, there is another viable post-secondary education option open to all students who do well at using their heads and their hands.

Apprenticeship Education!

• In the next two decades, 40% of new jobs will be in the skilled trades and technologies. In 1998, that number was less than 20%
• Many more people in the skilled trades are retiring than are entering the system
• Many skilled tradespeople now make six-figure incomes with excellent benefits!
• In Canada, the shortage of skilled labour has been estimated at no fewer than 20,000 unfilled jobs, growing to 50,000 by 2010
• According to Job Futures 2000, by 2007, more than one-third of jobs created in Canada will require a skilled trades designation or college diploma
  
  Source Skills Canada – Ontario

With an increasing demand for young people in the skilled trades and technologies, apprenticeship education is an intelligent post-secondary education option for young people making their career choices today. Better still, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) allows them to start their post secondary education while they are still in high school!
According to a recent Canadian Apprenticeship Forum and Skills Canada poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid:

• 42% of Canadian youth claim they are unlikely to consider a career in the skilled trades;
• 67% of youth and 55% of adults would choose university as the first post-secondary option;
• 26% of youth said they would consider a career in the trades;
• 60% of youth said their parents have not encouraged them to consider a career in trades;
• 71% of youth said guidance counsellors have not encouraged them to consider skilled trades professions.

For details about OYAP at your school please speak to your Co-op, Technology or Guidance teacher and for further details please feel free to contact the School Board’s OYAP Coordinator using the ‘Contact Us’ Form.

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