Ontario high school students will soon be able to spend most of their time in Grades 11 and 12 in apprenticeships if they choose to participate in a new skilled trades Program.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce hinted last year that the government would move in that direction and revealed those details today along with Labor Minister David Piccini.
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The province is creating a new stream under its Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program that will allow Grade 11 and 12 students to spend 80 per cent of their time in co-op courses, aimed at accelerating their entry into skilled occupations.
Lacey says students will still be required to take math and English courses.
The new stream is scheduled to begin in September 2025.
Piccini says the province will need more than 500,000 people in skilled trades over the next decade to meet the demands of building critical infrastructure.
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