CCO welcomes plan to reopen Ontario’s career colleges

CCO welcomes plan to reopen Ontario’s career colleges

BRANTFORD, ON, June 11, 2020 – Career Colleges Ontario, the association representing the career college sector and roughly 80 per cent of Ontario’s career college students, welcomes the ministry’s plan to support academically stranded students.

Yesterday, Minister Romano announced a framework and phased approach to reopening Ontario’s postsecondary institutions. Beginning July 2, colleges and universities, including career colleges, will be able to commence training for students who were not able to graduate due to COVID-19 closures. 

Phase one of the province’s plan to reopen Ontario’s career colleges will carry on throughout the summer from July 2 to the end of September. During this time, colleges will be able to train academically stranded students who have been unable to graduate due to practicum or lab requirements.

The province is also developing a framework that it will release to the sector in the coming days, which will provide guidance on the summer reopening and health and safety measures.

In its announcement, the ministry has committed that all students will have the opportunity to attend postsecondary education in September through virtual learning, in-class instruction, or hybrid formats.

The province’s phased approach to train academically stranded students has received the approval of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. This carefully measured approach to safely reopen Ontario’s postsecondary institutions was created through ministry consultation with colleges and universities, including significant engagement from Career Colleges Ontario and its CEO, Chris Conway.

“Ontario’s career college sector is a fundamental pillar to a recovering economy and a life-line to Ontario’s employers, providing skilled workers to local communities,” said Chris Conway, CEO of Career Colleges Ontario.

“Career colleges are specialists in hands-on skilled training at a hyper-local level, and the realities of COVID-19 has brought uncertainty for many of Ontario’s career college students as well as the local businesses who rely on them. We are thrilled to see the province recognize and take action to address the concerns of academically stranded students in a safe and responsible way.”

About Career Colleges Ontario

CCO is a non-profit association advocating for the equitable treatment of career college students and a level playing field for its member institutions. The association represents 240 campuses and roughly 80 per cent of Ontario’s career college student population. CCO’s member campuses contribute to Ontario’s economy by providing highly qualified graduates in hundreds of essential, skilled fields such as Applied Arts, Business, Healthcare, Human Services, Information Technology, Services and Trades.

For further information, please contact:
 
Dyson Wells
Marketing and Communications Officer
dysonwells@careercollegesontario.ca
(519) 752-2124 Ext.115


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