BC Government Gives Grant to SD83 Careers
SD83 Careers Department has received a $100,000 grant from Victoria to expand dual credit opportunities in health care. The money will be spread out over the next two years to help the department invest in the necessary start up costs to facilitate such programs beginning in the 2024/2025 school year.
SD83 Director of Instruction for Secondary and Middle Schools, Reid Findlay, says he’s happy to receive the grant and what it will mean for students. “The money is instrumental in expanding dual credit options for kids to see career options in the care economy,” Findlay said.
Dual Credit programs are trade, technical and academic courses where the student not only receives high school credits during their Grade 10-12 grad program, but post-secondary credits to possibly shorten their time in getting certification in a certain career. As well, another important point for parents is that the school district pays the post secondary tuition for the program.
SD83 Careers is hoping to offer the following new programs to district students for the 2024/2025 year: “Gateway to Health”, Medical Office Assistant and Nursing Office Assistant certificates through Okanagan College in Salmon Arm; and, the Emergency Medical Responder certificate through the Justice Institute of BC. The Medical Lab Assistant Certificate through Thompson Rivers University is now offered to students this year and programs like Okanagan College’s Health Care Assistant program will continue to be offered through Salmon Arm and Vernon. Also coming on stream in 2024/2025 will be a dual credit opportunity with Okanagan College’s Early Childhood Education program.
To highlight these opportunities, SD83 Careers Department is hosting for students and parents two Dual Credit nights in November. Salmon Arm Secondary will host the first event on Tuesday, November 7th from 5:30-7PM while Armstrong’s Pleasant Valley will host an event the next day at the same time. If you have any further questions on dual credit opportunities in your community, please reach out to your high school’s career coordinator or you can contact George Richard at 778-824-1188 via text or phone or email him at grichard@sd83.bc.ca.