Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programming can help students develop specialized knowledge and skills in a specific sector and gain certification, training and industry-recognized credits. These skills can help the students more easily transition into a sector or field and engage in activities and experiences that support innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
KPDSB is now running 18 SHSM programs, with two new programs for 2021–2022: Arts and Culture at Beaver Brae Secondary School and Health & Wellness at Ignace School. Our program enrolment has increased to 371 current KPDSB students in Grades 11 and 12. We continue to explore opportunities that are reflective of our students’ strengths and interests and that support equity of opportunity. Our program completion rates are in line with provincial trends. KPDSB received expansion funding in 2021–2022 for course provision in technological education and cooperative education and system innovation monies for an SHSM itinerant technology teacher and for an innovation project at Sioux North High School.
Through the application for SHSM expansion funding in 2020–2021, KPDSB has been able to create the position of SHSM itinerant technology teacher. This role serves to support the delivery of secondary technological education courses at Crolancia School and Ignace School and promote skilled trades to students in Grades 7 and 8 throughout the system.
Having an itinerant technology teacher provides equity of program access for students in all communities, especially smaller and more remote schools. It is hoped that through participating in technological education programming and being exposed to skilled trades, students will consider this pathway as they plan their future. It is also hoped that they will consider enrolling in an SHSM program to continue to build their knowledge, skills and experiences in the trades.
The teacher in this position travels to schools that are equipped to offer a technology course but are unable to staff technological education positions. The students will have the ability to learn and excel in a hands-on environment, which may not have been possible in the past. Now, SHSM accreditations can be given to students, and these smaller schools can more easily meet the SHSM course requirements. Students who receive SHSM accreditations may have more postsecondary opportunities. All students working with the SHSM itinerant technology teacher will learn more about their secondary and postsecondary opportunities and develop hands-on skills that will allow them to further their postsecondary career paths. The SHSM itinerant technology teacher will also support schools to improve their access to community and industry partners in the trade and technology sectors. This will support reach-ahead and cooperative education placements for students in all communities.
