Quebec wants to make vocational training more attractive

Photo Stevens LeBlanc
The minister of Education, Sébastien Proulx

Daphnée Dion-Viens

Monday, February 5, 2018 10:06

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Monday, February 5, 2018 10:06

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To counter the shortage of labour, Quebec wants to make vocational training more attractive.

• READ ALSO: Increase in the number of students in vocational training

To achieve this, the minister of Education, Sébastien Proulx, wants to modernize its programs and increase awareness, he said Monday morning during the opening days of reflection on vocational training, which bring together about 350 people up to Tuesday in Quebec city.

“The training professional, this is not a consolation prize. It is a profession of choice, said the minister. Young people should invest in them and parents need to accept that they are thinking about it (…) We all want the best for our children and for some, it’s vocational training.” This avenue provides quick access to quality jobs, well-paid jobs, he added.

Shortage of labour

Mr. Proulx also pointed out that Québec is facing “major issues of labor” and vocational training is a way to address it.

The number of enrolments in vocational training is rising for several years : in 2005-2006, there were 106 500 compared to 131 000 in 2015-2016. Yet, despite this increase, demand is still strong for these graduates in several sectors where the skilled workforce is not sufficient to meet the needs of the labour market.

“The lack of labour is an obstacle to economic development. Our new challenge in Quebec, it is the lack of skilled labour”, said the minister.

Students in difficulty

The partners of the network of education and labour market together to discuss avenues to modernize the vocational training. Assistance to students with special needs is part of the issues of concern to the minister Proulx.

According to figures from the ministry of Education, the number of students with disabilities or adjustment difficulties or learning (EHDAA) in vocational training has increased by 36% in the last five years, as reported in The Newspaper on Monday.

Golden rule, the services for students with special needs in secondary schools are not available in vocational training.

“Yes, we need to think about it, said Mr. Proulx. I was the first surprised when I arrived at the ministry to see that in fact, there was no help, which followed the students.” A student with dyslexia who benefit from special measures at the secondary level must have access to the same tools once made in vocational training, said the minister.

Programs better suited

Quebec also wants to explore ways to put in place so that programs are better tailored to the realities of the labour market. In aviation, for example, the training “is in the rear compared to the standards of the industry,” said the minister.

The last time Quebec city has invited the partners of the network of education and labour market to reflect the modernisation of vocational training dates back to 1986.

Québec will then submit an action plan which will detail the changes to be put in place.