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Funds help make trades training accessible in the Kootenays
Students in the Kootenays who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $65,000 in one-time funding for 16 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14, Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk announced Oct. 30.
The funding will support student spaces in the College of the Rockies’ electrical program at its Cranbrook campus.
“Top-quality trades training is vital to the economic future of the
Kootenays. These foundation seats at College of the Rockies underlines our government’s commitment to ensuring the right training is available in the right places at the right time,” stated Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett on behalf of Minister Virk.
“The government of B.C.’s investment of this funding goes a long way to ensure the college continues to play a vital role in preparing skilled workers to support our economy and communities,” said College of the Rockies President and CEO David Walls. “We thank the Ministry of Advanced Education for this investment in the college and in our students.”
Foundation training programs provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed for entry into a particular occupation.
Students receive credit for the first-level apprenticeship training in a specific field by the Industry Training Authority once they have successfully completed the foundation program.
The funding is part of an overall $1.8 million for 456 student spaces in 2013-14 at 10 public post-secondary institutions throughout
British Columbia and is over and above the funding that public post-secondary institutions will receive from the ITA in 2013-14 for foundation spaces.
This is the sixth year that the provincial government has provided targeted foundation skills funding. From 2008-09 to 2013-14 the total funding for foundation skills programming is $10.3 million.
For more information on The BC Jobs Plan and Skills Training Plan:
www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills/bc-skills-and-training-plan/
Above photo: Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk recently visited COTR’s haul truck driver training centre. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
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