www.caf-fca.org
Youth Apprenticeship Across CanadaHigh School Apprenticeship ProgramProfessional Learning GroupFebruary 26, 2016
www.caf-fca.org
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
•The organization:
•was established in 2000
•is a not-for-profit organization that brings together the key playersin apprenticeship across trades, across sectors, across Canada
•has three primary objectives:
•research apprenticeship issues and challenges of broad interest
•facilitate dialogue and share best practices among stakeholders
•promote skilled trades careers among youth, parents & educators
www.caf-fca.org
Youth Engagement
•Youth engagement is a top priority for the apprenticeshipcommunity
•Employers express keen interest in apprentices who:
–Are positive and enthusiastic
–Have the right attitude and show up on time
–Understand the trade and what to expect, particularly in theearly stages
www.caf-fca.org
Youth Survey Responses
•More open to considering a skilled trades career
•Greater number rated skilled trades “better than” alternatives
•Improved awareness of available career options
•Better understanding of the apprenticeship process
•Information more readily available
•Valued hands-on work and the contribution of tradespeople
www.caf-fca.org
Parent Survey Responses
•Skilled trade careers appealing due to job opportunities, good payand opportunity to own a business
•Parents favour university – 57% say a degree is the top choice fortheir child
•Less than a quarter of parents favour a college diploma orCertificate of Qualification
•Almost a quarter still believe the trades are for weak students
www.caf-fca.org
Parental Suggestions
•Provide clearer information about apprenticeship requirements
•Provide more opportunities to learn about skilled trades at school
•Provide more guidance about how to find an employer sponsorand how parents can help
•Encourage teachers to talk positively about the skilled trades
•Provide better information about the secondary school coursesneeded to prepare youth for skilled trades careers
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Educator Suggestions
•Provide field trips and journeyperson presentations
•Better information about trades and labour market
•Integrate content into the curriculum
•Better-equipped trades classrooms; one-on-one teacher support
•Promote positive images and the value of a trades certificate
•Encourage employers to hire young apprentices
•Provide girls with opportunities to learn about the trades
www.caf-fca.org
•Most provinces and territories have apprenticeship programsdesigned to engage youth in skilled trades careers
•Approach varies across the country
–Dual credit
–Earn hours toward apprenticeship levels
–Grants, bursaries and scholarships
–Tuition and/or registration fees waived or reduced
Youth Apprenticeship Across Canada
www.caf-fca.org
Prince Edward Island
•Accelerated Secondary Apprenticeship Program
–16+ and enrolled at high school
–Paid work in a designated trade under a suitable employer
–Credit for time spent in trades courses or co-op placements
–Annual safety training course available at no charge
–log hours and gain trade-specific skills
–$1,000 youth apprenticeship award ($500 tuition credit for HollandCollege, $500 student bursary)
www.caf-fca.org
www.caf-fca.org
Nova Scotia
•Nova Scotia Youth Apprenticeship Initiative
–Under 20, with a job in the trades and a willing employer
–Typically work part-time in high school; youth find their job placement
–Registration fee waived
•Skilled Trades Centres
–Constructed in 16 public high schools to accommodate program taughtby certified journeyperson
www.caf-fca.org
New Brunswick
•New Brunswick Teen Apprentice Program
–Industry assumed a leadership role by developing a program to meet itsneeds
–Core elements include:
•Workforce placements starting in grades 10 and 11
•Students get sufficient hours to challenge Level 1 apprenticeship beforethey graduate (about 1,000 hours over 3 summer work terms)
•The program focuses on student fit – attitude, aptitude, work ethic – butemployer needs are also central
–Training coordinators play a key role as “relationship managers”
www.caf-fca.org
Ontario
•Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
–Coordinators connected with every school board in the province arepaid by training ministry
–Youth apprentices are registered with the province and may transfer toa full-time program upon high school graduation
–In the meantime, they are paid employees and time is counted towardboth apprenticeship and high school graduation
•Specialist High Skills Major
•Cooperative education
www.caf-fca.org
Saskatchewan
•Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Program
–Three challenge levels Grades 10, 11 and 12)
•Awareness of apprenticeship process; Researching career pathways; Hands-onexperiences with tradespeople
–For those who complete and register as an apprentice within 5 years:
•Registration fee waived ($150); Free first-year tuition for technical training;Credit of 300 hours toward trade time
–$1,000 scholarships awarded to graduating students based on nominations from highschools
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Alberta
•Youth Apprenticeship Program
–Builds awareness among students in junior high (grades 8 & 9)
•Registered Apprenticeship Program
–Supported by network in-school counsellors
–High school students (15+) who work in one of 50 designated trades
–Flexible arrangements to accommodate both school and work
•Careers Next Generation
www.caf-fca.org
Yukon
•Apprenticeship Unit has direct relationship with high schools
•Dual credit for pre-apprenticeship courses in collaboration withYukon College
•Limited infrastructure in the high schools
•Focus on promoting the trades as an option and increasingunderstanding of career pathways
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Common Challenges
•Awareness
•Finding job placements for youth and keeping employersmotivated; Continuation of opportunity
•Competing social policy objectives
•Focus on student experience, not employer demand
•Poor data collection and evaluation – what happens to students?
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Common Benefits
•Student access to workplaces develops soft skills thatemployers say is missing from the educational system
•Opportunity to experiment within a support structure
•Even those who don’t continue to apprenticeship are likely tobenefit from the opportunity
www.caf-fca.org
Youth Apprenticeship Across CanadaHigh School Apprenticeship ProgramProfessional Learning GroupFebruary 26, 2016