Students participating in the new Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program at Three Oaks High School will have opportunities opened up to them in the rapidly growing aerospace sector, said Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Doug Currie.
“I am very excited about the options that this program offers Island students,” said Minister Currie. “Programs like the Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program will open new doors for these students. With the experience and knowledge these students gain with this program, they can choose to go directly into the workforce, opt for an apprenticeship, or choose to continue their education at either college or university. Whatever they decide, this program will prepare them for the next step.”
The Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program is a specialized program that allows students to focus on this specific sector. This fall, students in Grade 11 at Three Oaks, Kensington, and Kinkora Regional High Schools will be able to register for the Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program.
In addition to meeting provincial graduation requirements, students in this program must also complete aerospace-aviation credits, sector-based cooperative education credits, and sector-supported certifications. Students will have the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to pursue a career in the aviation-aerospace sector at the various work placements they will be required to complete.
“I am delighted that the Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program will have the first intake of students in September,” said Donnie Gallant, Aviation/Aerospace Instructor at Three Oaks High School. “I want to thank the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the PEI Aerospace Human Resource Sector Council for their support in making this vision become a reality.”
Aerospace was targeted as a growth sector as part of government’s Prosperity Plan because of the significance of the industry to our One Island Community and One Island Future. To help strengthen this sector, businesses will need to have the necessary human resources to continue to grow and offer exciting, local job opportunities for Island youth, this program will help provide that support.
“This program will allow us to meet one of the Sector Council’s main goals, which is to effectively govern labour market development through collaboration between industry, government and education,” said Marc L'Heureux, President and Chair of the PEI Aerospace Human Resource Sector Council. “Companies in our sector are looking forward to assisting students with their experiential and cooperative education learning experiences.”
The Aviation-Aerospace Academy Diploma program was developed in cooperation with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the administration at Three Oaks, the Western School Board and the Aerospace Sector and Aerospace Human Resource Sector Council as well as members of the Program Advisory Committee.