January 14, 2016
Province Invests $30 Million to Create Employment, Training Opportunities for Young People
More students will benefit from new or renovated shops classes and the opportunity to train on state-of-the-art equipment thanks to an investment of $30 million in Manitoba’s Skill Build Shops Fund, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“We want students to have the chance to train on industry standard equipment while they are still in high school,” said Premier Selinger. “This commitment to employment and training opportunities for young people will ensure there are no wrong doors between high school, post-secondary education and the workforce, and that’s the key to good futures for all Manitobans.”
The premier made the announcement at the Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre where construction of shops for broadcast/online media and plumbing trades programs is nearing completion.
“We are committed to investing in our schools and giving more opportunities to young people,” said Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum. “Cuts to our schools would see students having a harder time getting a job or going to university and college when they finish high school.”
The first phase of the Skill Build Shops Fund, announced in 2014, resulted in a total of 19 new projects at 17 schools that are now providing industry standard vocational programming to students eligible for apprenticeship certification, the premier noted. All projects from the first phase are now under construction or in the tendering process.
“With the creation of the broadcast media and plumbing programs, we can diversify learning opportunities for our students and provide more pathways that can lead to excellent careers for their futures,” said Duane Brothers, superintendent, Louis Riel School Division. “We value this investment in our students’ futures.”
The Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre offers vocational programming at a high school level. The broadcast and online media training program will provide up to 50 students with the skills and competencies needed to prepare them for employment in the industry. Students will be prepared for further media studies at Red River College and students from other divisions will be able to access the programming.
The plumbing trades program will prepare students for employment and further training, and will meet existing labour demands from industry. It will accommodate 40 students per year and they will have the opportunity to earn high school credits while getting started in a high-demand vocational career.
The province invested nearly $1 million in the new shops, which are nearly complete, the premier said.
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