Former West Ferris students stood in front of the Near North District School Board trustees and touted the success of the “Co-Op” program. Last night at the NNDSB board meeting, two former students told their stories of how Co-Op led to full time jobs right out of high school.Co-Op is a credit course offered at secondary schools in Ontario. They can be in anything from education to trades.
Co-Op’s can be offered as day school, night school or summer school programs. A company who takes on a Co-Op student has the option whether or not to pay them. West Ferris Co-Op instructor, Guy Horth, says the only things not included in Co-Op is firefighting and policing. The attendance at West Ferris this year is under 600 students, and 36 of them are taking Co-Op courses. Horth says last semester (fall and spring) he had 72 students, and expects the number to increase again this spring.
Members from the board asked if Co-Op programs are having success at all secondary schools in North Bay, and apparently they are. Near North Board Chair David Thompson says the program helps students graduate, but it’s bigger than that. He says not only does it get them through school, but it allows them to find a career that they are passionate about. Thompson believes that is what education is all about, helping their students find careers that they love. Thompson says the Co-Op program is something the board needs to look at expanding.
