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Grade 11 students in Ontario can soon apprentice full-time and earn their high school diploma

The Ontario government announced on Wednesday that Grade 11 students can transition to a full-time, skilled trades, apprenticeship program and still earn their high school diploma. (Courtesy: Canva)

Ontario high school students in Grade 11 can soon apprentice full-time while earning their high school diploma.

The Ontario government announced on Wednesday that Grade 11 students can transition to a full-time, skilled trades, apprenticeship program. 

After receiving their Certificate of Apprenticeship, students can apply for their Ontario Secondary School Diploma as mature students. 

“These changes provide students with exciting pathways to good-paying jobs and rewarding careers and support our government’s ongoing work to attract more young people into the skilled trades,” Premier Doug Ford said in a news release on Wednesday. “Whether it’s enhancing trades education in our schools, breaking down barriers for newcomers or upskilling workers, we’re leaving no stone unturned to train the skilled workforce that will build Ontario.”

The government says the move is part of its strategy to combat historic labour shortages and allow students to enter the trades faster. It takes between two to five years to complete an apprenticeship in the province.

The Ministry of Education says it is working to recognize up to 30 credits required to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma for individuals with a Certificate of Apprenticeship or equivalent.

There are over 140 skilled trades in Ontario and 1.2 million people are working in these skilled trades, according to the government. 

About one in five job openings in Ontario is projected to be in the skilled trades by 2026, the government says.

In the construction sector alone, the government says 72,000 new workers are needed by 2027 to fill open positions because of retirements and expected job growth.

“To help deliver the province’s infrastructure plans, including building 1.5 million homes by 2031, more people are needed in the skilled trades,” the release reads. 

The government said it will also begin consultations in fall 2023 with employers, unions, education stakeholders, parents and others about strategies to make it easier for young people to enter a career in the trades. This includes potentially lowering entry requirements for some of the 106 skilled trades that require a Grade 12 education, the government says. 

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