Global Cities Education Network Symposium, October 8-11, 2013

Singapore

VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

ONTARIO CONTEXT

Christopher UsihExecutive SuperintendentToronto District School BoardToronto, Ontario, Canada

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011

QUICK FACTS…

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011

Provinces & Territories

CANADA

Total Area: 1,076,395 square kilometres

Nearly 35 million people (2012)

10 Provinces and 3 Territories

Approx. 40% of all Canadians live in Ontario

Source: Council of Ministers of Education , Canada (2008) :Ontario Education

Source: Statistics Canada, 2013

Unemployment Rate

Providers of Vocational Education & Training in Ontario/Canada

• Thousands of non-degree granting institutions including private schools and industry partners

• Include public colleges, specialized institutes, community colleges, institutes of technology, colleges of applied arts and technology, or cégeps in Quebec

Source: Government of Canada, 2012

APPRENTICESHIP

• Apprenticeship registrations have shown a steady increase, reaching almost 300,000 in 2005.

• The largest increases have been in the building construction trades

RESPONSE TO LABOUR SHORTAGE

• New federal program fast tracking skilled immigrant workers (proposal)

• Launched in January 2013 in response to calls from Canadian employers for skilled workers to fill labour shortages – particularly in the construction and natural resources sectors.

• Rather than formal academic education, applicants are assessed on language skills, practical training and work experience.

Response…

• Part of the government’s plan is “to challenge the bias that exists among young Canadians who see a university degree as more valuable than going to college to learn a skilled trade.”

• Proposals to expand polytechnics• Encourage the private sector to offer more

apprenticeships.• Offer a tax credit to employers who train

apprentices.

Ontario Student Success Strategywww.gov.on.ca

• Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) – a school to work transition program allowing students to complete high school while developing work skills and building hours towards the completion of an apprenticeship.

• Students must be at least 16 years old.• Training is 90% on-the-job and 10% in school

More Options…• Specialist High Skills Majors – Students can take a bundle of courses in a particular

industry sector will completing their high school diploma

• Co-operative Education /internship (paid and unpaid)

• Continuous Intake Co-operative Education • Dual Credit Programs – Students enrolled in college courses while still in high school

(concurrent) • School Within a College • Broad Based Technology Programs • Experiential Learning Opportunities – i.e., Career Exploration Activities, Job Shadowing,

Job Twinning, Work Experience/Virtual Work Experience, etc.

THANK YOU!