Thank you, Keith Baldrey, for your insightful Oct. 22 column, It's high time students considered trades.
I appreciate that you articulated so clearly that the demand for skilled tradespersons is high, and that they often mean well-paying salaries and job satisfaction.
I am the district principal that oversees Burnaby School District's career programs, and each year I see so many students find great success in trades. The program we offer provides Grade 11 and 12 students the opportunity to experience on the job skills and gain knowledge of the modern workplace and a variety of industries and careers through work experience while they earn graduation credits and industry certification.
Currently, Burnaby School District offers a wide range of industry training programs, including apprenticeship level 1 technical training or training leading to a certificate of qualification in 10 different trade areas. These are the same programs that are currently available at post-secondary institutions. The only difference is that there aren't any tuition costs to families.
Other industry training programs are secondary school apprenticeship; industry certification programs (computer networking technician, fitness trainer, and hotel and event management) and industry connect programs leading to careers in digital sound production, film and broadcast, and graphics/media arts. All programs fulfil Ministry of Education graduation requirements and post-secondary entrance requirements, offer both in-class training and work experience and are available to students while they are still in high school. Upon graduation, many students launch their careers or seek further training or post-secondary education related to their program choice.
In addition, the district offers the Transition to Trades training program, a trades exploration program, for students entering Grade 10 or 11. This program provides students with the opportunity to explore six different trade areas while completing their academic requirements for graduation.
All of these programs are a good choice for students who know exactly what they want to do or offer opportunities for those who aren't quite sure but recognize that the "traditional" school is not working for them. Some students, who have professional career aspirations, are choosing these programs because they see a direct link to the skills and knowledge required for them to pursue their future goals.
For example, we had a female student who took carpentry as she aspired to be an architect and recognized that it would be useful to know how to build things from the ground up.
Some other students are choosing carpentry or construction electrician because their goal is to become a firefighter or an engineer.
The message that we would like to share with parents is students who participate in industry training programs have a wide range of career options available to them in their future, including increased certification, post-secondary diploma and/or degree programs, project or company management positions, business ownership, a different or new career in related fields, etc.
These programs offer training that is unique and provides students with the opportunity to build and refine highly marketable transferable skills. All programs lead to post-secondary.
Parents, I encourage you to check out the trades and certification programs that are offered in our high schools today - so your child is poised to achieve career success.
You will find the information on our district website under programs at www.sd41.bc.ca or speak to a career program advisor at your child's school.
The demand continues to increase for skilled trades workers - in B.C. - and beyond. The world is their oyster, and it would all begin in high school in Burnaby.
Donna Scott is the district principal for the Burnaby School District.
