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Province Announces New Supports, Funding to Expand, Enhance Skills Training for Students

ILE DES CHÊNES—The province is supporting students in the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM) through a shared vision that will offer more skills training and trades opportunities in French for students, Premier Greg Selinger announced at l’École/Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy here today.

Currently, most DSFM students interested in taking Technology Education Program courses have to travel to English centres or schools.  DSFM has developed a new strategic plan to expand programming and expand opportunities for students by broadening courses available, and the province is committed to work with the division on this important initiative, the premier said.

“Training young people for the well-paying jobs of tomorrow is an investment in Manitoba’s future,” said Premier Selinger.  “That’s why we’re helping to connect students like the ones here at
Gabrielle-Roy with practical skills closer to home, which can lead to exciting career opportunities in our growing economy.”

The province is supporting the DSFM’s strategic plan to offer skills training and trades courses in French for its students by:

• supporting the partnership the DSFM has launched to add new French courses in collaboration with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology;
• providing $23,000 in provincial support for the development and implementation of skills and trades programming for grades 7 to 12;
• developing new courses and programming in French including Fundamentals of Carpentry and Introduction to Heavy Industry; and
• funding for two one-week camps showcasing technical and trade options to 24 Francophone students from grades 7 and 8 through Apprenticeship Manitoba’s Building Tomorrow summer
  co-op program.

The premier also announced new funding for skills development to benefit students at l’École/Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy.

The school is receiving $20,000 as part of the Skill Build Equipment program to purchase a laser cutter/engraver.  Eight school divisions throughout the province are receiving a total of $100,000 in funding for the purchase of equipment through the program including the DSFM, the premier added.

“The Commission scolaire franco-manitobaine is pleased to see the Government of Manitoba invest in the industrial arts. This meets an important need in terms of choice for Francophone students,” said Bernard Lesage, chair, DSFM school board.

The Manitoba government has launched a comprehensive skills strategy with targeted investments into schools, the premier said, adding the investments provide students with access to state-of-the-art equipment that will create a pathway to post-secondary education and good jobs.  Other recently announced initiatives include:

• a new, $30-million Skill Build Shops fund to build and expand trades and skills shops in high schools across the province;
• a new, $1-million career development fund to ensure students leave high school with a good idea of where they want to go and how to get there, whether it is through a university, college training, work placements, or on-the-job training and apprenticeship; and
• a new, $1-million Skill Build Equipment fund to upgrade classrooms to an apprenticeship accredited level and bring welding, electrical, carpentry and culinary arts equipment into schools across Manitoba.

“We want to ensure that every Manitoban can take advantage of the good jobs and growing economy right here in the province,” said Premier Selinger.  “That’s why we’ve said no to cuts.  Our strategy is to invest in our children, develop their skills and provide them with opportunities here at home in good jobs that will be in demand for years to come.”

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