Eves
government invests $90 million to improve technological education
TORONTO, June 12 /CNW/ - The Ernie Eves government is investing $90
million
over four years including $8 million this year to improve
technological
education in Ontario, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education
Elizabeth
Witmer announced today. The funding will be used to purchase new
equipment
including construction framing tools, automotive hoists and food
preparation
equipment.
"Students need the most up-to-date equipment, well-trained
teachers and
innovative
partnerships with employers and colleges to reach their full
potential
in these courses," said Witmer. "The Ontario government has a
plan
to
provide students with the skills and expertise they need to succeed after
high
school, whether they go to university, college, apprenticeship or the
workplace."
An estimated 300,000 students annually will benefit from the
technological
education renewal initiative.
"As an organization we strongly believe that the
only way to encourage
students
to pursue technological courses in high school is by providing them
with
the resources and equipment that will prepare them for the workplace.
This
announcement will help boards and schools meet this objective," said
Gail
Smyth,
Executive Director of Skills Canada-Ontario.
In the 2003 Ontario Budget, the government announced a four-year,
$90
million
technological education renewal initiative that will:
- help refurbish and
update the equipment required to offer specialized
programs for students in school-work transition programs;
- enable school boards
to develop partnerships with employers to ensure
that specialized programs meet the needs of the workplace; and
- help teachers
receive focused training to ensure they are well-
prepared to teach the new technological and vocational curriculum.
The new, four-year initiative responds to extensive consultations
by
Garfield
Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, with key stakeholders from industry and
education.
"We are putting more resources and equipment in our schools so
students
learn
using the latest tools and technology and are ready for the demands of
the
21st century workplace," said Witmer. "Our government strongly
believes in
province-wide
access to leading-edge apprenticeship and workplace preparation
programs."
Backgrounder
Document d'information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVES GOVERNMENT HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED
The Ernie Eves government has a plan to provide students with the
skills
and
expertise they need to succeed after high school, whether they go to
university,
college, apprenticeship or the workplace.
It is estimated that more than half of all students who enter Grade
9
will
go directly into the workforce after graduating from high school.
Technological
and vocational programs offer the skills students need to enter
the
workplace in the information technology, automotive and construction
industries,
among others.
Improving technological education resources
In the 2003 Ontario Budget, the government announced a four-year,
$90
million
technological education renewal initiative that will:
- help refurbish and
update the equipment required to offer specialized
programs for students in school-work transition programs;
- enable school boards
to develop partnerships with employers to ensure
that specialized programs meet the needs of the workplace; and
- help teachers
receive focused training to ensure they are well-
prepared to teach the new technological and vocational curriculum.
There are more than 300,000 students enrolled in nine technological
education
subject areas in Grades 10 to 12: communications technology;
computer
and information science; computer engineering technology;
construction
technology; health and personal services; hospitality and tourism
technology;
manufacturing technology; technological design; and transportation
technology.
There is also a Grade 9 integrated technologies introductory
course.
Renewal plans for technological education programs in secondary
schools
may
include the following types of expenditures:
- new home
construction framing tools such as, table saws, pneumatic
nailers and laser levels;
- CADD (computer aided
design and drafting) workstations;
- automotive hoists;
- Computer Numeric
Controlled (CNC) milling machines;
- food preparation
equipment such as refrigerators, ovens and stainless
steel preparation tables;
- repairs and upgrades
to fixed equipment such as metal cutting lathes,
band saws and walk-in freezers;
- appropriate personal
protective equipment;
- hand and power tools
that relate to specific OYAP trades;
- common hand tools
such as concrete finishing tools, drywall tools,
portable drills;
- ladders and
scaffolding; and,
- modular systems
trainers in electronics and computer engineering
technology.
To help young Ontarians acquire the skills needed in today's
economy, the
government
has also invested $120 million since 2000 to revitalize the
apprenticeship
system and to double the number of people entering
apprenticeships
in Ontario.
Strategy to help high school students succeed
The Eves government recently announced a $50 million investment to
help
students
succeed in high school. The Graduate in Ontario by Achieving Literacy
Standards
(GOALS) strategy will benefit students who need extra help in
reading,
writing and math and in their transition from school to the workplace
or
to college and university.
The new strategy includes:
- students-at-risk
leaders, who will work with Grade 7 to 12 teachers
and administrators to implement improved teaching methods for
students
in literacy and math across the curriculum;
- enhanced workplace
preparation programs; and
- better pathways for
the transition from school to the workplace.
In addition, a comprehensive, full credit literacy course will
provide
intensive
literacy instruction and reassess the skills of students in Grade 12
who
failed the test. For diploma purposes, passing the course is equivalent to
passing
the Grade 10 literacy test.
The strategy aims to support students whether they plan to go on to
the
workplace,
college or university.
Extra Support for Students
Some students need extra help to achieve the standards set in the
curriculum.
The Ontario government is committed to ensuring that schools and
teachers
have the resources to provide that extra help.
The Eves government has committed more than $580 million in
2003-2004 to
school
boards for remediation programs. The money is distributed in the
following
manner:
- $358.3 million for
at-risk students including, early literacy (JK to
Grade 3), literacy and math (Grades 7 to 12), GOALS and a
demographic
component that provides funding for additional supports.
- $190 million to
support English as a second language programs;
- $15 million to
support French-language instruction; and
- $20 million for
summer school programs.