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Creating More Opportunities For Youth To Succeed
TORONTO, Jan. 16 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is giving youth who left
high school without a diploma a chance at success by expanding the OPS Learn
and Work Pilot Program, Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips announced
today.
"Our government is committed to providing the youth of this province with
every opportunity possible for success in the future," said Phillips. "The OPS
Learn and Work Program offers a positive, innovative approach to helping young
people stay in school, complete their education and gain real-life work
experience."
The expanded OPS Learn and Work Program is designed for youth between the
ages of 16 and 19 who have left high school without a diploma. Upon completion
of the program, participants will have earned up to 10 academic credits toward
their high school diploma and up to 27 weeks of meaningful work experience in
the Ontario Public Service and its Crown agencies.
Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Children and Youth Services, and Kathleen
Wynne, Minister of Education, joined Phillips for today's announcement at
Centennial College in Toronto, where successful participants from the initial
pilot are now completing their education in a similar program run by the
Ministry of Education.
"Our government believes that young people can deal with their challenges
and achieve personal success, with the right supports," said Chambers. "By
working with our many partners to provide these young people with valuable
learning opportunities along with work experience, this program is offering
youth another chance to find success and achieve their full potential."
"This is another example of how our government is transforming the high
school experience to reach every student," said Wynne. "Ontario's graduation
rate will continue to rise because students can customize their education with
more relevant learning opportunities that match their skills, goals and
interests."
The initial pilot was an 18-week program at Lester B. Pearson Collegiate
Institute in Scarborough's Malvern community, with participants earning up to
five credits toward their high school diploma. The expanded program is being
delivered at:
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- Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute in Scarborough
- Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in the northwest area of
Toronto
- JL Forster Secondary School in Windsor and
- St. Pius X Catholic Secondary School in Ottawa.
The OPS Learn and Work Program is part of the McGuinty government's
$28.5-million Youth Opportunities Strategy, a broad plan to help young people
faced with significant challenges achieve individual success and promote
stronger and safer communities.
This is just one example of what the government has done to support
students and young people in this province. Other initiatives include:
- A $1.3 billion Student Success Strategy that is providing more
students with new programs and support to help them customize their
education to match their own skills and interests.
- Creating 1,000 skilled trades training spaces
- Bringing back grants for students who need help the most: 60,000
students will get grants this coming year
- Doubling student aid so families can afford higher education
- Introducing an anti-bullying strategy and school safety audits.
"This is a positive, innovative approach to helping these young people
stay in school, complete their education and gain real-life work experience,"
said Phillips. "When I saw how successful the pilot program was, I knew we had
to open up this opportunity for more students."
Disponible en français
www.mgs.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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OPS LEARN AND WORK PROGRAM
The OPS Learn and Work Program gives youth ages 16 to 19 who have left
high school without a diploma the opportunity to earn up to 10 credits and
gain up to 27 weeks of paid work experience in the OPS and its related
agencies.
The program contributes to the following government priorities:
- Increasing the high school graduation rate to 85 per cent by 2010
from 71 per cent as of 2005 by helping more students succeed, through
increased learning choices and customized programs.
- Providing a coordinated approach to preventing youth violence by
providing new and positive learning and work opportunities for youth.
- Promoting the OPS as an employment opportunity.
Work placements for the program include more than 10 government ministries
and related agencies, the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal and the Ontario
Science Centre.
The Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School
Board, the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton
Catholic District School Board are important partners in this program,
providing necessary resources and support.
In September 2006, with the ability to accommodate up to 20 students at
each facility, the OPS Learn and Work Program expanded beyond Lester B.
Pearson Collegiate Institute in Scarborough to also include:
- Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in the northwest area of
Toronto
- JL Forster Secondary School in Windsor and
- St Pius X Catholic Secondary School in Ottawa.
This is just one example of the government's Student Success Strategy to
ensure all Ontario students have the opportunity to reach their full potential
and continue learning until the age of 18 or graduation. Other initiatives
include:
- Special credit recovery classes to help students complete credits
without repeating the entire course
- 1,600 new or reassigned high school teachers, including 800 Student
Success teachers, dedicated to helping struggling students. These
teachers work with students to track their progress, help students
catch up on missing credits and support the development of better
programs and services
- Adding the new Specialist High-Skills Major to the Ontario Secondary
School Diploma to allow more students to customize their education
- Expanding cooperative education programs through increased
partnerships with business and community organizations.
Disponible en français
www.mgs.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Paul de Zara, Minister's Office, (416) 327-3072; Ciaran Ganley, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8659
Également disponible en français
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