Outcomes 7, 8, 9

Ontario wants youth to:

  • Achieve academic success
  • Have education experiences that respond to their needs and prepare them to lead
  • Access diverse training and apprenticeship opportunities

In Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario the Ministry of Education laid out the government’s plan to build on past achievements in education and move forward with ambitious new goals. Through this plan, the ministry continues to focus on basics like reading, writing and math, while placing a new emphasis on higher-order skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship. Achieving Excellence also recognizes the importance of student well-being inside and outside of school.

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development helps develop Ontario’s highly skilled workforce by increasing experiential learning opportunities, helping students acquire the talent and skills needed for the knowledge economy, and encouraging partnerships in high-demand fields.

This year, Ontario continued to make investments in strategies that support outcomes related to education, training, and apprenticeships, including:

  • Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario
  • Ensuring equity
  • Promoting well-being
  • Enhancing public confidence
  • Indigenous Education Strategy
  • Safe and Accepting Schools
  • Healthy Schools Strategy
  • Transforming Ontario’s postsecondary education system
  • Indigenous Postsecondary Education and Training
  • Apprenticeship training
  • Ontario College of Trades
  • Youth Justice Education and Skills Training Success Strategy
  • eCampusOntario

Strategies and Programs Supporting Outcomes

Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario

Lead: Ministry of Education

Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario builds on the education system’s current priorities and reaches deeper and broader, raising expectations both for the education system and for the potential of our children and students.

The province’s renewed vision for education has four interconnected goals:

  • Achieving excellence
  • Ensuring equity
  • Promoting well-being
  • Enhancing public confidence

Achieving Excellence

Lead: Ministry of Education

Through the goal of achieving excellence, children, youth and students of all ages are achieving high levels of academic performance, acquiring valuable skills and demonstrating good citizenship.

New in this report:

  • Experiential learning gives students the chance to explore different career opportunities beyond the classroom and provides them with an opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Consultations on the future of experiential learning were held in early 2016. A draft policy framework was made available online.
  • Expanded relevant new learning opportunities included:
    • The Specialist High Skills Major program, which was expanded to accommodate an additional 2,000 and just over 100 new programs. The program lets high school students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests, while meeting requirements of their high school diploma.
    • The Dual Credit Program, which was expanded to enable 400 secondary students across the province earn credits that count towards their high school diploma as well as their postsecondary certificate, college diploma, degree or apprenticeship certification.
  • Ontario dedicated more than $60 million to help support students across the province achieve better results in mathematics by introducing a Renewed Math Strategy. The strategy includes a focus on achieving excellence in applied courses.

Ensuring Equity

Lead: Ministry of Education

The goal of ensuring equity is to inspire children and students to reach their full potential. Ontario schools need to be places where everyone can succeed in a culture of high expectations. They need to be places where educators and students value diversity, respect each other and see themselves reflected in their learning. It is particularly important to provide the best possible learning opportunities and supports for students who may be at risk for not succeeding. The goal of ensuring equity builds on the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, which first launched in 2009.

New in this report:

  • The province increased investments in students and schools by adding about $300 million to the 2016–17 Grants for Student Needs.
  • The ministry announced next steps to strengthen supports for students with special needs, including:
    • Keeping all provincial and demonstration schools open
    • Piloting intensive reading intervention projects
    • Establishing a reference group to provide guidance and input on strengthening supports for students who are deaf or hard of hearing
    • Pursuing legislative changes to transfer the governance structure of Centre Jules-Léger to the 12 French-language school boards to better support French-language students

Promoting Well-Being

Lead: Ministry of Education

The goal of promoting well-being is to help children and students develop greater mental and physical health, a positive sense of self and belonging, and the skills to make positive choices. Children and students who have strong relationships and a positive sense of self are in a better position to reach their full potential. It is essential to support all of our students to have a positive sense of well-being in the world that will help them learn, grow and thrive.

New in this report:

  • The Ministry of Education is developing a shared vision of how to best support the well-being of all students. It is doing so in collaboration with parents, students, educators and administrators, counsellors, social workers, and community partners across the province. This process began in fall 2016 and is supported by the engagement paper Well-Being in Our Schools, Strength in Our Society.

Enhancing Public Confidence

Lead: Ministry of Education

An education system that is sustainable, responsible, accountable and transparent inspires public confidence and contributes to positive student outcomes.

New in this report:

  • Ontario began implementing steps to modernize teacher education. Part of this process involves updating the curriculum for teacher education so that it addresses diverse student needs and students who have mental health and addictions issues.

Indigenous Education Strategy

Lead: Ministry of Education

Ontario’s Indigenous Education Strategy has been designed to improve opportunities and close the achievement gap for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in provincially funded schools, whether they live in remote areas or in urban areas. It builds the foundation for lifelong learning as students transition to postsecondary, training or workplace opportunities. The strategy also increases the knowledge and awareness of all students about Indigenous histories, cultures, perspectives and contributions.

New in this report:

  • Ontario, Canada, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation have committed to work together to improve educational outcomes for First Nations students in First Nations–operated and provincially funded schools. This work builds on a 2013 Memorandum of Understanding.
  • On December 15, 2015, the Ministry of Education renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Métis Nation of Ontario to strengthen activities initiated in previous agreements and to promote understanding of Métis perspectives within provincially funded schools.
  • Ontario is helping produce Anishinabek Nation’s We Are All Treaty People teachers’ kit. (Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation)

Safe and Accepting Schools

Lead: Ministry of Education

Ontario schools should be a place where everyone—children, students, staff, parents and the community—feels welcome, safe and respected. Safe and Accepting Schools are essential for student well-being and achievement.

New in this report:

  • Ontario passed the Protecting Students Act, 2016. This act protects children and students by making the disciplinary process for the province’s educators clearer and more transparent.
  • All school boards and police services in Ontario are required to have a local police/school board protocol in place to guide police involvement in schools. A revised Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol was released in 2015, and local protocols, based on the 2015 provincial model, are now in place.
  • Thirty-four selected secondary schools in urban neighbourhoods facing challenges were supported through the Urban and Priority High Schools program. A 2014–15 evaluation of this successful program led to changes and a relaunching in 2016–17

Healthy Schools Strategy

Lead: Ministry of Education

Good food, daily physical activity and a healthy environment that supports learning and growth are vital to helping students reach their full potential. Through the Healthy Schools Strategy the ministry is working with students, teachers, principals, parents and others to help Ontario’s students do their best in school and to make our schools healthier places for students to learn and grow.

New in this report:

  • The Concussions web portal continues to be updated to provide the latest critical information about concussion prevention, identification and management. (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)
  • Fresh from the Farm offers a new approach to fundraising for schools by giving schools the opportunity to sell Ontario grown fruits and vegetables. For this program, the Ministry of Education has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Dietitians of Canada and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
    • The program was expanded in fall 2016 for the 2016–17 school year to more school boards and regions. Now 52 school boards and over 4,000 schools are eligible to participate.

Transforming Ontario’s Postsecondary Education System

Lead: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Ontario is working with its partners on transforming Ontario’s postsecondary education system. To help guide the sector, the province is strengthening its stewardship role and promoting a more coordinated approach. The goals of this initiative are to:

  • Support student success and access to a high-quality Ontario postsecondary education
  • Increase the global competitiveness of Ontario’s postsecondary education
  • Build on and help focus the well-established strengths of Ontario colleges and universities, while avoiding unnecessary duplication
  • Maintain an efficient and financially sustainable postsecondary education system

New in this report:

  • Key initiatives that focus on high-quality student outcomes include implementation of funding formula reforms and the renegotiation of strategic mandate agreements with colleges and universities.

Indigenous Postsecondary Education and Training

Lead: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Working in partnership with Indigenous leadership, communities and institutions, Ontario is helping Indigenous learners gain the education and skills they need to succeed in today’s economy. Since the launch of the Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training Policy Framework in 2011, significant progress has been made in First Nations, Métis and Inuit learning.

New in this report:

  • The Indigenous Governance and Public Administration program is an Ontario college graduate certificate aimed at enhancing respectful, responsive and effective partnerships and equitable Indigenous representation in all level of government. The program prepares graduates for future leadership and policy-making roles or future academic careers. The program is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2017.
  • Six Nations Polytechnic, owned and operated by Six Nations of the Grand River, began offering a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ogwehoweh (Cayuga and Mohawk) languages. The school has also:
    • Graduated the first 25 members of its Hodinohson:ni Ambassador Program, in anticipation of the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education in 2017.
    • Received a Youth Opportunities Fund grant for its programs as well as funds from the Local Poverty Reduction Fund to use culturally relevant, community-based learning to help Indigenous students gain trades training and skills development opportunities.
  • Ontario is investing in an Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and an Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship at Algonquin College. This Building Ontario investment will also be used to establish an institute for Indigenous entrepreneurship, the only space of its kind in Ontario.
  • Enji-Giigdoyang at Nipissing University is partnering with four postsecondary institutions on a national mentorship program for Indigenous youth.
  • Canadore College, with its Aboriginal Circle on Education, set the direction for its Indigenous training and education. The college’s Five Year Strategy for Indigenous Education was released in fall 2016.
  • Achieving Results through Partnership: First Progress Report on the Implementation of the Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training Policy Framework was released in June 2015.

SPOTLIGHT

Promising Programs Supporting Indigenous Postsecondary Students

Promising programs that support the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development’s Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training Policy Framework include:

  • Project Pathfinder —Originally a demonstration project, Project Pathfinder is now a core component of the new regional comprehensive Indigenous Education Strategy, led by Mohawk College. The program engages Indigenous youth who often face barriers and are considered at risk due to their lower-than-average accumulation of high school credits, socio-economic status or other challenges.
  • Work Ready Aboriginal People (WRAP) — Led by Grand River Employment and Training (GREAT), the program offers training in the skilled trades to Indigenous youth. It was developed to increase the number of Indigenous youth that enter unionized construction jobs as apprentices and follow through to journeypersons. The WRAP program is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge of Haudenosaunee history and culture through a unique learning experience.

Apprenticeship Training

Lead: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Ontario is supporting growth in high-demand jobs by introducing more young people to careers in the skilled trades, helping to ensure that Ontario’s future workforce has the skills and training for the jobs of tomorrow.

New in this report:

  • As part of the renewed Youth Jobs Strategy announced in Budget 2015 and reaffirmed in Budget 2016, the province’s support for youth apprenticeship includes:
  • Funding of $23 million over two years through the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund. The province is investing in 47 new capital projects at colleges and other training organizations for new equipment, new facilities and new technologies, such as welding simulators, to provide opportunities for hands-on training.
    • Funding of $13 million through the Pre-Apprenticeship Training program to support 84 pre-apprenticeship training programs. The programs will help more than 1,500 people, primarily from traditionally under-represented groups (e.g., women, Indigenous peoples and at-risk youth), consider careers in the trades. The programs develop participants’ skills through in-class training sessions and work placements.

Ontario College of Trades

Lead: Ministry of Labour

The Ontario College of Trades is responsible for promoting and modernizing the skilled trades and protecting tradespeople, industry and, above all, the public interest.

New in this report:

These amendments will further enable the college to carry out its duty to serve and protect the public interest.

Youth Justice Education and Skills Training Success Strategy

Lead: Ministry of Children and Youth Services

The goals of the Youth Justice Education and Skills Training Success Strategy are to improve educational achievement, enhance skills attainment and increase school engagement for youth in, or at risk for, conflict with the law.

New in this report:

  • The Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship eLearning series focuses on building youth justice system capacity to support youth in exploring education, training and/or employment in skilled trade vocations. The eLearning series has five modules that are intended to enhance staff knowledge about the trades sector and provide resources to support youth. Three of the five modules are used with youth as a conversational and knowledge-building tool, and to promote a relationship custody approach.
  • The community-based youth justice program allows students unable to attend community schools, due to a variety of personal circumstances, to maximize their academic success. The program offers smaller pupil-to-teacher ratios, a safe and flexible class structure, and an environment conducive to teaching and learning for youth in conflict with the law. The program supports credit accumulation and recovery based on students’ learning needs, and seamless transition to school or an appropriate program. It also facilitates pathways to ensure future educational success.
  • The Youth Offender Tracking Information System educational achievements module collects and reports data on the educational and skills development of youth in the youth justice system. The ministry is developing outcome measures and reviewing data collection processes so that it can better measure its success in improving educational achievement, enhancing skills attainment and increasing school engagement for youth offenders.

eCampusOntario

Lead: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

The province is investing $72 million over five years to support the development and operation of eCampusOntario. A centre of excellence in online and technology-enabled learning, eCampusOntario brings together offerings from all 45 of Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities. It also funds and facilitates college and university collaborations in the development of new, high-quality online courses and programs, research and knowledge mobilization, and a variety of student and faculty supports.

New in this report:

  • The online portal for eCampusOntario, launched in fall 2015, now offers information on over 15,700 courses and 760 programs, most of which are delivered online.
  • In 2016, eCampusOntario issued calls for proposals to develop open content and new online programs and courses, and to undertake research and innovation about online and technology-enabled learning. Sixty-three projects have been approved for funding, and 76% of them focus on collaboration. More projects will be announced in 2017.

What the Data Says

  • The percentage of students graduating high school within four years reached 78.3% in 2015, up from 76.3% in 2014 and 56% in 2004footnote 9.
  • Since 2004, about 190,000 more students have graduated than would have if the graduation rate had remained at the 2004 level. That is more than the population of Guelph and Belleville combinedfootnote 10.
  • New annual apprenticeship registrations in programs across Ontario have grown from 17,100 in 2002–03 to more than 26,500 in 2014–15.

Data from the Profile of Youth Wellbeing

  • 14% of students are enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program.
  • 36.8% of both public and Catholic high school credits are available through e-learning.
  • 12.5% of youth have a postsecondary certificate or diploma.

Case Study

Pathways to Education

Participants in Pathways to Education celebrate their graduation in Kitchener in 2016.

Pathways to Education is working to make Canada a “graduation nation.” The program began in 2001 in Regent Park, Toronto, and now serves 18 communities across the country.

Partnering with dedicated organizations in low-income communities, Pathways to Education supports youth in graduating from high school so they can reach their full potential. The combination of academic, financial, social and one-on-one supports helps youth break the cycle of poverty through the power of education.

The results of the program are impressive. Every year Pathways to Education welcomes over 5,000 students to the program. Graduation rates in Pathways to Education communities have improved by an average of 85%. A full 74% of graduates have gone on to postsecondary education or training. There is now an alumni base of over 4,000 youth who have become active members in their communities.

The Pathways to Education program had—and continues to have—a major impact on my life. Pathways was able to connect me to several internship opportunities that gave me first-hand work experience in my intended field of study and allowed me to form networks and meet employers that would otherwise be inaccessible to me. Farhana, Pathways to Education Alumna

Footnotes