Ontario invests money in an effort to double the number of students entering programs
In an effort to double the number of students entering apprenticeship programs, the Ontario government has poured $5 million into upgrading facilities at colleges in the province this year.
The funding is part of a five year, $50 million commitment that was announced in last year’s budget and is intended to ensure colleges can keep up with the government’s plan to increase the number of students enrolled in the programs.
Declining enrolments in apprenticeship programs in recent years is often cited as an important factor behind shortages of skilled labour across the country.
“Investment and jobs are attracted to economies with a highly skilled workforce and an effective apprenticeship training system,” said Dianne Cunningham, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “We’re investing in our colleges to ensure that their training facilities have the technology to provide the high-quality training today’s apprentices need and industry demands.”
The money will be used to provide hands-on training to more apprentices, support classroom training for new skilled trades, improve the efficiency of apprenticeship classroom instruction and to remove barriers to training for persons with disabilities.
“The Ontario government is ensuring that apprentices are being trained to the highest level in skills that are in demand and have experience using today’s technology,” said Jack Slothouber, a plant manager with ATS Systems and a member of the industry committee advising the province on apprenticeship training for the precision tooling and metal cutting trades.
The $5 million is being distributed among 24 colleges this year, with Mohawk College leading the way with an investment of $596,000. For a complete list of colleges, the amounts invested and how the money will be spent visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/02.05/bg0528.html.
The funding is part of a five year, $50 million commitment that was announced in last year’s budget and is intended to ensure colleges can keep up with the government’s plan to increase the number of students enrolled in the programs.
Declining enrolments in apprenticeship programs in recent years is often cited as an important factor behind shortages of skilled labour across the country.
“Investment and jobs are attracted to economies with a highly skilled workforce and an effective apprenticeship training system,” said Dianne Cunningham, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “We’re investing in our colleges to ensure that their training facilities have the technology to provide the high-quality training today’s apprentices need and industry demands.”
The money will be used to provide hands-on training to more apprentices, support classroom training for new skilled trades, improve the efficiency of apprenticeship classroom instruction and to remove barriers to training for persons with disabilities.
“The Ontario government is ensuring that apprentices are being trained to the highest level in skills that are in demand and have experience using today’s technology,” said Jack Slothouber, a plant manager with ATS Systems and a member of the industry committee advising the province on apprenticeship training for the precision tooling and metal cutting trades.
The $5 million is being distributed among 24 colleges this year, with Mohawk College leading the way with an investment of $596,000. For a complete list of colleges, the amounts invested and how the money will be spent visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/02.05/bg0528.html.
