Mississauga, Ontario — Today the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) released a report on skilled trades in the secondary schools and personally handed copies of the report to Ontario Premier Doug Ford at a breakfast event hosted by MBOT.
The Report is the work of the MBOT Human Resources Committee and makes dozens of recommendations to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Training & Skills Development and the business community on what can be done to improve skilled trades training in secondary schools and provide greater hands-on opportunities for students to learn about the benefits of a career in skilled trades occupations.
MBOT met with representatives of all four local school boards that serve the City of Mississauga in preparing this report and is very thankful for their time and input into the recommendations.
The full report can be accessed here: https://issuu.com/mbotontario/docs/mbot_skilltrade_report
Some of the major recommendations include:
- That the Provincial Government sponsor a high-profile advertising campaign directed at both the general public and parents in particular on the value and importance of the skilled trades in Ontario at the Secondary School level.
- That the Ministry of Education provide flexibility on class size to local School Boards as it relates to classes in skilled trades. Only small class sizes are effective to ensure proper Teacher-Student ratios, configure a room properly for equipment and safely supervise all work.
- That the Ministry of Education allow for the engagement of outside skilled trade expertise to teach segments of classes where this involvement is either warranted or required. The School Boards should be able to compensate these instructors working along with the designated Teacher for the class.
- That the Ministry of Education provide dedicated capital and operating funding to schools like West Credit Secondary School that run Regional Skilled Trades programs.
- That the MBOT work with the four School Boards to encourage and recruit more Mississauga businesses to participate in co-op programs.
- That the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance consider a tax credit for companies that accept students for co-op placements in their businesses.
“We think this report provides the Government of Ontario with some very practical ideas to improve skilled trades training and better involve the business community in shaping curriculum and learning opportunities,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, MBOT. “We were very pleased to be able to hand copies of the report to the Premier and hope that his Government will look seriously at our recommendations.”
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Media Contact:
David Wojcik, President & CEO
Mississauga Board of Trade
905-273-3527
