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South Okanagan Photos

Grant for “shoulder tappers”

New grant helps School District 53 connect students with their future

OLIVER – Local students will get some help exploring their options for high-tech and trades training thanks to $25,000 from the B.C. government to launch the Shoulder Tappers program in School District 53.

The Shoulder Tappers program enlists career co-ordinators or recruitment specialists who work closely with students to help them connect with trades and technical training – as well as on-the-job experience.

Co-ordinators help mentor elementary and secondary school students and facilitate student access to technical, academic and vocational courses in industries as diverse as aircraft engineering, heavy-duty mechanics, information technology and early-childhood education. The co-ordinators also work closely with employers, the Industry Training Authority and the CES Career Education Society to connect students with opportunities.

“Ensuring our students have the skills they need to find a good job in the future is a key component of our province’s new K-12 curriculum,” Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson said. “This new program in School District 53 will show students how they fit into a vibrant workforce and connect them with the required training.”

In December, the provincial government announced a similar program worth $5 million for 15 districts in northern B.C. in partnership with Northern Development Initiative Trust. Funding support from Northern Development allowed the Ministry of Education to extend the program to more districts this year.

The government launched B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint in April 2014 to re-engineer education and training so British Columbians are first in line for careers of tomorrow. The Shoulder Tappers initiative helps government meet this goal.

Over the next three years, new K-12 curriculum is being phased in with new standards in mathematics, sciences, and applied design, skills and technology. It supports opportunities for students to develop the problem-solving and creative thinking skills they need for success in B.C`s tech sector.