The participation rate of Academic Upgrading programs with Pre-Apprenticeship was 65%. Of the 31 program leads, 20 reported that they participated with Pre-Apprenticeship programs in joint planning and service co-ordination. Five said Pre-Apprenticeship programs were not available in their communities. Three said they did not know about Pre-Apprenticeship programs. Three said they were available but that they did not participate, other than to refer clients or track referrals.
Program leads were asked to identify the different kinds of linkages their programs had with Pre-Apprenticeship.
Program leads were asked to identify where Pre-Apprenticeship programs were located. Eleven programs were co-located and ten were located beyond a 2 km radius. Two leads reported that in their community Pre-Apprenticeship programs are located both within and beyond a 2 km radius.
Program delivery leads commented on why there were few or no linkages with
Pre-Apprenticeship. Comments focused on the unavailability of Pre-Apprenticeship
programs “Pre-Apprenticeship has not been available in this community
to date,” or the fact that they were new, “Pre-Apprenticeship is
new programming for us.” Others identified barriers that inhibited the
development of program linkages with Pre-Apprenticeship programs. One lead indicated
that lack of access for students was an issue, “Most students from this
location do not want or are not able to travel to a larger centre to access
Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities.”
A second identified the need for funding,
“College Academic Upgrading and Trades are discussing the possibility
of running a pre-apprenticeship program for youth who have dropped out of school.
We will need funding for this.”
A third pointed to the need for information
for students, “Pre-Apprenticeship students have to have a grade 12 or
equivalent to get in. It has been challenging to include any upgrading since
they feel they don't need it.”