Government of Alberta
Province investing to meet labour market demands by increasing access to “trades” education
From Government of AB
The province is providing more funding for scholarship programs for apprentices to meet labour market demands and increase access to trades education.
Lord Beaverbrook Grade 12 pipefitting student, Quinn Tubrett demonstrates welding skills to MLA R.J. Sigurdson from the Skilled Trades Task Force, Minister Nicolaides, Ray Massey, board chair of Skills Canada-Alberta and David LeMay, board member of CAREERS: The Next Generation.
Alberta is supporting high school students pursuing trades education by improving and increasing the scholarship program. The $1.5-million High School Apprenticeship Scholarship, which consolidates previous programs, will help more high school students access the education and training needed to get jobs in the trades.
“This investment will allow more young Albertans to access post-secondary education, through apprenticeship learning. We believe that a trades certificate has as much value, merit and worth as a university degree. When looking at post-secondary educational opportunities, I encourage young Albertans to give due consideration to the skilled trades. The trades provide a strong pathway to employment and to high-paying careers.”
“Our government has been working hard to strengthen the education system and support academic excellence and choice for our students as they prepare for their futures. These expanded scholarships will provide additional opportunities for Alberta high school students to pursue a career in the trades.”
“The High School Apprenticeship Scholarship will go a long way to recognize excellence and encourage our finest asset, Alberta’s youth, to continue their apprenticeship education and support them in their journey to reach their full potential as the future industry leaders on the world stage.”
“We are confident that the High School Apprenticeship Scholarship will be a valuable investment in the future of young Albertans, and ensure that they are able to pursue rewarding careers in the trades.”
“The High School Apprenticeship Scholarship is an important tool that recognizes that an apprenticeship is a valuable post-secondary education option and a career pathway that allows our young Albertans to achieve their own future career success as well as to become contributors to Alberta’s long-term economic prosperity.”
The province has injected an additional $1 million into the expanded program that recognizes the achievements of high school graduates who have chosen an apprenticeship pathway.
Qualified high school graduates in either the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) or Career and Technology Studies (CTS) apprenticeship programs will receive a $1,000 scholarship. In addition, qualified graduates who have completed both a RAP and a CTS programs will receive a $2,000 Bright Future, High School Apprenticeship Scholarship.
Quick facts
- Over the past four years, an annual average of about 10,000 Alberta high school students in approximately 300 schools across the province participated in RAP and CTS classes.
- Over the last five years, an average of 344 recipients per year received the RAP/CTS Scholarship.
- More than 1,400 scholarships worth a total of nearly $1.5 million are being awarded for the 2019-20 school year:
- 1,387 High School Apprenticeship Scholarship awards valued at $1,000 each
- 35 High School Apprenticeship Scholarship – Bright Future awards valued at $2,000
- Over the next five years, nearly 20,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire, with that number hitting more than 45,000 in 10 years. That’s equivalent to half the population of the City of Lethbridge leaving town.
From the Province of Alberta
Improving student learning in Alberta
A new vision to guide education will transform student learning, update curriculum and strengthen the K-12 system.
Alberta’s government is honouring its commitment to end the focus on so-called “discovery” or “inquiry” learning by repealing the 2013 ministerial order on student learning and replacing it with one that will give students a foundation of literacy and numeracy and a knowledge of the rich and diverse history of Alberta and Canada. The new ministerial order emphasizes civic virtues, core knowledge, and outcomes students need to succeed in school and throughout life.
“This new ministerial order on student learning is a return to proven teaching methods that will set up Alberta’s students for rich personal and work lives. Moving forward, education will promote skills development and knowledge pursuit, equipping students to explore opportunities that will help them develop their talents and unleash their potential.”
The new ministerial order was developed after the government broadened consultations to hear a wider range of perspectives from parents, teachers, and subject matter experts. It places an emphasis on essential core knowledge, evidence and fact-based materials, and focuses on literacy and numeracy as foundational elements woven throughout the entire curriculum.
“As a lifelong teacher, I fundamentally believe that students should gain the knowledge and skills they need to form foundations for successful and fulfilling lives. Literacy and numeracy are the bedrock for successful learning, and I am pleased that the final ministerial order recognizes that importance.”
Now that the new ministerial order is in place, the 2018 draft K-4 curriculum will be reviewed and future curricula will be drafted for the next grades. All draft curricula will be aligned with the new vision.
Due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, timelines for piloting the new draft curriculum are being adjusted. Validation will be expanded from K-4 to include Grades 5 and 6. Participating schools will start piloting this curriculum in classrooms in September 2021. At a minimum, a draft curriculum for Grades 7-10 will be ready for classroom validation in September 2022.
It is anticipated that all students attending school in Alberta will be learning from the new K-6 curriculum by the 2022-23 school year.
Quick facts
- In August 2019, the independent 12-member Curriculum Advisory Panel was established.
- In December 2019, the panel submitted a draft ministerial order on student learning and recommendations on curriculum direction to government.
- In February 2020, more than 8,500 Albertans, including education partners, gave feedback on the draft ministerial order during a public engagement.
Images from the Province of Alberta
Covid-19 cases in Alberta are on a downward trend over the last few days. There are 211 active cases in Central Alberta. 157 of those cases came up in the last week.
With 14 more positives diagnosed in the last 24 hours, there are now 145 active COVID-19 cases in Central Alberta. 106 people have been diagnosed in the last week (July 14-20).
In Central Alberta two rural counties have by far the most cases. Beaver County at 67 and Starland County at 63 account for 130 of the 211 total cases. Here’s the Central Alberta breakdown in cases including municipalities with no cases at all.
- Beaver County – 67
- Starland County – 63
- Settler County – 12
- Red Deer – 10
- MD of Wainwright – 8
- Kneehill County – 7
- Lacombe County – 7
- Flagstaff County – 6
- Paintearth County – 5
- Red Deer County – 5
- Drumheller – 5
- Special Areas 2 – 4
- Vermillion River County – 3
- Sylvan Lake – 2
- Lacombe – 2
- Camrose – 2
- Camrose County – 2
- Clearwater County – 2
- Mountain View County – 1
- Wetaskiwin – 1
- Olds – 1
- Provost County – 1
- Ponoka County – 0
- Two Hills County – 0
- Wetaskiwin County- 0
- Minburn County – 0
- Special Areas 4 – 0
In the City of Red Deer there are 10 active cases. 3 in “North” Red Deer, 2 in “West” Red Deer, and 5 in Red Deer – East.
Three people have died from COVID-19 in Central Alberta. Early on in the pandemic someone over 80 years old from Camrose died. In more recent days 2 senior citizens have passed away. One was from the County of Two Hills, and the other was from the Wainright area.
Here are the total number of cases for the entire province including all the recoveries.
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