- 5. Involvement of employer and labour as key partners;
Provincial departments of education and school boards have not readily involved employers
and labour in the process of education. Yet, when employers are asked to be involved in
work experience or other transitional programs, schools report that it is challenging to elicit
their participation. The research shows that there is a significant disconnect between
education and the labour market. Partnerships between education, labour and business are
required to improve transitions. Without them, students will be at a deficit in developing an
understanding of the labour market and the knowledge and skills required to realize their
career aspirations.
A number of programs in the inventory demonstrate the benefits of employer and labour
involvement. One significant program underway in Ontario, Education/Sector Council
Partnership Project involves employer representatives from 18 sector councils in 15
programs in 12 schools in the Toronto District School Board.
6. Governments at all levels who provide commitment and leadership;
School-to-work transitions will remain ad hoc and passive without the commitment and
leadership of all levels of government. “In Canada major regional differences and wide
ethnic and cultural diversity have made coherent framework development and institution
building difficult” (OECD, 2000). This is perhaps the greatest challenge for creating a
successful school-to-work framework in Canada.
7. Financial viability and sustainability;
Many excellent school-to-work initiatives no longer exist because of fluctuations in funding
and policy directions at all levels of government. A disruption in the availability of
programs contributes to the confusion and unreliability of measures aimed at improving
school-to-work transitions. Programs most vulnerable tend to be those for youth at
greatest-risk and/or need (Bell and Bezanson, 2006). Financial commitment is needed both
at the government level and from the private sector to create sustainability for programs
which demonstrate their positive impact.
8. Career development (counselling, information, education) integrated into the
curriculum and made visible to support better student access;
Research on the impacts of career development services for youth strongly indicates that
career development programs, counselling, education and information support youth
pathways to the labour market. As Bell and Bezanson state “career development services
can broaden world views, increase knowledge of work and occupation options, help to build
important workplace and decision making skills and support transition planning” (2006).
There are a number of programs in the inventory that build career development into the
curriculum. A number of provinces have mandatory career development courses. The
Career Internship Program at Windsor Park Collegiate is an award winning example in the
inventory that supports students with developing their careers from grades 9 to 12 and
prepares them for life after high school. Ninety-eight percent of students in a 2001
graduate survey said they were focussed on a career path as a result of taking the program.