REGINA - Students enrolling in Saskatchewan’s online learning program this fall who are interested in automotive training will soon be able to take part in automotive placements.
On Thursday the Government of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre and the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealer's Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Regina, for a new one-year partnership to support work placements for high school students in Sask DLC's Mechanical and Automotive courses for the 2023-24 school year.
SADA is investing $40,000 under the MOU and the plan is for students to complete their theory component online, and then undertake a work placement in any of the 133 SADA-member car dealerships across Saskatchewan.
"The Sask DLC It’s looking for innovative ways that we can provide innovative courses for students, regardless of where they live in the province," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said.
He acknowledged the Sask. DLC faced a challenge in how to provide practical training to students. This is meant to bridge that gap.
"What the Sask DLC is able to offer is partnerships like this one with the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealer’s Association that allow for the students to do the theory part of the course online, but then when it comes to the work placement, the SADA members are saying is that for this year’s agreement, they will allow work placement for the students to do the practical portion of the class when it comes to automotive technology.”
Sask DLC will be online this fall to offer online courses for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
"We know that trades are a high demand career opportunity in Saskatchewan so this partnership will definitely lead to other ones down the road in other trades," said Sask. DLC CEO Darren Gasper to reporters.
"Autobody and electrical would be great examples where the need is strong there as well. We look forward to working with those associations in bringing programs online in those trades as well."
