Oh Yeah, It’s OYAP!
Oh Yeah, It’s OYAP!
Goals! Opportunities! Success! Attention all post-secondary bound students. Open your ears to the timeless tales of the trades.The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, informally known as OYAP, may just have what you’ve been looking for. OYAP helps young people obtain placements in now just over one hundred and seventy skilled trades that can be learned through apprenticeship training. This program ha been very beneficial to graduating students here at Assumption College School in opening the door to such a wide variety of exciting and challenging careers.
It is important for students to understand that OYAP is not just another cooperative education experience. If you are in grade eleven or twelve, and are at least sixteen years of age, you may work towards a career in the skilled trades and use the work experience obtained through OYAP to further compliment you in your apprenticeship after completing your Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Any hours logged in the high school OYAP program will be applied to the hours required to obtain your apprenticeship licence.
Apprenticeships in Ontario fall into four sectors: Construction, Industrial, Motive Power and Service. There is an impression that apprenticeships are just for the traditional trades like mechanics and electricians, but there is a diverse range of apprenticeships in the province; everything from tool and die makers to child and youth workers. In speaking with Assumption’s students, it has been to my great discovery that OYAP is not just about learning, but more about experiencing, trying new things for the first time and actually getting your hands dirty.
I was surprised to hear that one former OYAP student was told of the wonders of this program even from her parents. It appears that OYAP has the support of the whole community behind it, for indeed students are trained so very effectively, and in doing so, can fulfill their career goals.“It’s such a good life experience,” recalls a student who took place in the apprentice program at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. The student closed the conversation with recommending this experience to all and to any who want to have fun and learn life-long lessons.
As a dedicated life-long learner of Assumption College School, I call upon my fellow students to learn about OYAP and what it can really do for you.Students seeking a brighter future in the skilled trades, this is your call to embrace an experience that will give you that big head start in your career.
