The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, announced the 10 high schools taking part in the first year of the Technology Career Pathway (TCP) program starting in September 2021.
The schools chosen for the pilot from across the province are:
- Waterford Valley High, St. John’s
- Holy Trinity High, Torbay
- Holy Spirit High, Conception Bay South
- Exploits Valley High, Grand Falls-Windsor
- Lakewood Academy, Glenwood
- Corner Brook Regional High, Corner Brook
- Elwood Regional High School, Deer Lake
- St. James Regional High, Port aux Basques
- Mealy Mountain Collegiate, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
- William Gillett Academy, Charlottetown (via Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation)
In addition to these schools, the program will also be offered through the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation, which serves multiple rural communities on the island and in Labrador. Depending on the initial success of this project, the program will launch in more schools in September 2022, as the students in the current pilot move to the second year of the program.
This pilot project, first announced in December 2020 will develop new pathways, including academic opportunities, for interested students to more easily transition from high school to Information Technology programs at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) or other post-secondary information technology programs. Students participating in the program will start coursework in Grade 10 with the current high school computer science course, transitioning to post-secondary courses in Python programming in grades 11 and 12.
Students who complete the program will receive a micro-credential from CNA indicating they have completed the Python TCP, as well as course credit at the post-secondary level. They will also receive a $2,500 tuition voucher for a post-secondary institution in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Python is a widely used programming language in fields such as web development, data science and artificial intelligence.
This program is a collaboration between the Department of Education, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) and CNA. Minister Osborne was joined by Goronwy Price, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the NLESD, and Brian Tobin, Vice President, Academics of CNA at today’s announcement.
This pilot and future TCP programs will help narrow that skill gap in the technology industry while providing young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with early exposure to an industry with significant job prospects. Future TCP programs can focus on areas such as cyber security, infrastructure and web development.
Quotes
“As we announce the schools taking part in the first wave of the Technology Career Pathways Pilot Project, I can’t help but look forward to the opportunities that these students will have in our growing technology sector. No matter what ambitions the students have they will learn skills that prepare them for the careers of the future. We remain committed to embedding digital learning throughout our education system, and this is an exciting next step.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Education
“Our Board has always supported and promoted the expanded use of technology in our classrooms to enhance teaching and learning of students to prepare them for their futures. The District is pleased to see this partnership initiative taking shape, as it will further expand on the great work underway within many of our students and school communities.”
Goronwy Price
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
“CNA recognizes the value of micro-credentials as part of growing a highly skilled and technologically savvy workforce – both from a learner perspective and that of an employer. The fact that we are able to expand this type of program into our high schools is a testament to how we are strengthening our role as a provider of these needs in this province. Investment in our youths’ education today will translate into an even greater benefit for tomorrow’s workforce. CNA continues to take a lead role in ensuring that we, through this and other collaborations, provide a clear pathway so that current and future graduates become successful.”
Elizabeth (Liz) Kidd
President and CEO, College of the North Atlantic
The link to the live Zoom call can be found
here.
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Partnership Announced To Support Technology Career Pathway Programming in High Schools
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Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
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Cheryl Gullage
Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
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Michelle Barry
College of the North Atlantic
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