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Passport to Prosperity

The "Passport to Prosperity" program is the second phase to the initial "Employer Recruitment Strategy" pilot project undertaken in 1998-99. It was one of four regionally designated projects across the Province. Its objectives are far-reaching, but mainly include:

a) Building education stakeholder and business sector awareness. This involves conducting research and carrying out activities to increase awareness of School-to- Work transition opportunities for high school students amongst all stakeholders: employers, educators, labour organizations, parents, students and the community at large

b) Developing support for the provincial Passport to Prosperity program. This entails supporting the roll-out of the Passport to Prosperity Initiative ( as a follow -up to the Phase I (Employer Recruitment Strategy) by responding to inquiries from employers, community representatives, educators, parents and students, by making referrals to the appropriate education and business contacts in the area and, by fostering an increased involvement by employers in school-work transitions programs and services.

The objective of the strategy is to enhance, promote and support School-to-Work Transition Programs in identifying and advocating:

a need for increased awareness and initiatives to promote the opportunities that exist for employers in the development of a partnership with the education sector in our communities

a need to inform parents of the benefits of such programs as they relate to their children’s career planning and work skills / ethics development

a need for students to become aware of all options available to them; a need for the success stories to be recognized

a need for labour organizations to support such valuable learning / educational experiences and for them to contribute to the insurance that these programs are meaningful educational opportunities

a need for the community at large to recognize the value of such programs and in turn, join in the support and promotion of their communities’ related initiatives

the building of a talent pool -- preparing the future workforce by enhancing skills and work ethics

reducing youth unemployment rate by providing them with hands-on experience, introducing them into the work world and assessing their performance as future employees

SCHOOL TO WORK TRANSITION PROGRAMS

Co-operative Education:

Co-operative education (often referred to as Co-op) is a partnership between the school, the student, the parents, the business and labour organizations. It is a strategy of applied learning.What is learned in the classroom is enriched by real-life work experience during organized work terms. It is a planned learning experience in the community that complements and enhances school courses and provides the students with an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in practical situations. Co-op students must be at least 16 years of age and have accumulated 16 secondary school credits (Grade 11). The work placements are directly related to senior level high school courses already completed or presently studying. The student follows an individualized training plan which is reviewed and adjusted on an ongoing basis.The co-op placement usually takes place 1/2 day, 5 days per week during a semester. Students receive credits based on evaluation of their performance in the work placement.Co-op education offers students an avenue of expanding their interests, exploring their career options and firming up their future educational pursuits.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) enables students in Grades 11 & 12 to complete their high school diploma while starting their apprenticeship training. It consists of a 3-way partnership agreement between a student who wants to learn a trade, an employer who needs a skilled worker and who will provide the training, and the Ministry of Education. Upon completion, the student becomes a fully qualified tradesperson, with skills that can lead to a rewarding career. The student will be enabled to enter the workforce as a trained and contributing worker. Students earn credits for their workplace experience in the apprenticeship program, and the time they spend in the placement counts towards their apprenticeship requirement.

Bridges to Employment

Bridges to Employment is an educational program which provides work-bound students in Grades 10-12 with explicit preparation for the workplace through links between schools and work sites. >Bridges provides a structured transition to work for students planning to enter the work force directly from secondary school.Students are given an opportunity to learn job specific skills and to earn secondary school credits as they progress towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students will attain employability skills as well as experience first-hand employer expectations in the workplace.The Bridges to Employment program generally consists of the following dimensions: ob shadowing / career exploration, visits to industry and businesses, a brief work experience (2-4 weeks), and a co-operative education placement.

Other Programs and Initiatives

Career talks and classroom visits

Career fairs and career days

Work site and industry tours

Job shadowing

Work experience

Mentoring

Bring your kids to school

Promotion of women in the workforce: professional, traditional and non-traditional occupations