Risky business: - The unanswered questions in Ontario's proposed apprenticeship plan

The key difference between the existing apprenticeship pathways and the newly proposed plan is that the new policy would pause a student’s journey towards the completion of their high school diploma in favour of an earlier entrance to the labour force as a full-time tradesperson. [...] Students will miss out on the knowledge, skills, and competencies taught in their grade 11 and 12 compulsory courses, as well as the range of skills fostered through broader learning opportunities and engagement in the school community. [...] People for Education refers to these combinations of skills as the New Basics.4 In addition to the potential loss of skills, a high school diploma is a prerequisite for the majority of well-paying jobs and postsecondary educational pathways.5 According to data from Statistics Canada, there are clear links between higher educational attainment and higher levels of earnings and employment.6 Allowing. [...] For instance, programs such as the Secondary School Apprenticeship Training program in Yukon and the New Brunswick Teen Apprentice Program create more flexibility for students by allowing them to work full-time over the summer and part-time for the rest of the year while still attending high school.18 The Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship provides financial support by waiving registration and Leve. [...] The education system in Switzerland is an “integrated, lifetime system” in which apprenticeship is a key feature.20 Around 70% of students go into vocational education and training (VET) while only 25% take the academic route and the VET pathway has equally high status and recognition among Swiss society.21 One of the reasons that VET is attractive to young people in Switzerland is that it utilize.