Ontario high school students seeking a career in a trade will be able to spend less time in the classroom and more time doing hands-on learning thanks to a new provincial initiative starting next fall.
Known as FAST—Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training—the newly announced program will allow students in Grades 11 and 12 to spend as much as 80 percent of their time training and 20 percent on academics beginning in 2025.
As part of the program, announced this week by Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Labour Minister David Piccini, students will earn between eight and 11 credits from trades training through co-op placements. Students will still be required to earn math and English credits in Grade 11, and English in Grade 12.
The program is a bid by the Ontario government to fast-track young people into skilled trade careers to address the province-wide labour shortage, Mr. Piccini said.
“To get there, we’re opening pathways into the skilled trades today for the workers of tomorrow by making it easier for Ontarians to find apprenticeship opportunities through a new online job-matching portal, and reducing barriers for more workers to get a second chance at a better job with a bigger paycheque,” he added.
FAST will allow students to choose full-time apprenticeship training from one of 144 different streams, effectively accelerating their progress toward careers as electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other skilled trades.
Graduates will receive a special seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma to signify their successful completion of the FAST program and recognize them for their dedication to learning in the skilled trades.
The program builds on the existing Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and will be marked with a “seal of distinction” on students’ high school diplomas.
The province says it will also launch an online job-matching portal to help high school juniors and seniors find apprenticeship positions.
Mr. Lecce said allowing students to take up to 80 percent of their senior-level courses in co-op education builds on the provincial mandate starting this fall that all students will be required to take at least one technological education course.
Skilled Trades Ontario CEO Melissa Young described FAST as a win-win for students and the trades industry.
“Unlocking pathways to the skilled trades means unlocking the future of our province,” she said. “The targeted supports announced today will break down barriers and pave the way for more people to discover rewarding and in-demand careers in Ontario’s more than 140 skilled trades.”
The province launched consultations on accelerating trades education last fall. The consultations allowed stakeholders to weigh in on how many co-op credits could be used toward the 30-credit high school diploma.
Premier Doug Ford has called the initiative a “game-changer,” for the province which has been dealing with a skilled labour shortage for some time. Skilled workers are needed in all trades, particularly in construction, as Canada looks to tackle the housing shortage.
