(The office of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty released the following statement this March 8 on the growing numbers of students that have graduated from high school since his Liberal government took office more than seven years ago.
Niagara At Large posts this media release for your information and welcomes you to share your comments at the end of the post.)
March 8, 2011, Ontario is becoming even more competitive now that more students are graduating from high school.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
Graduation rates have risen in each of the last six years — going from 68 per cent in 2003–04 to 81 per cent in 2009–10. That’s an increase of 13 percentage points.
The increased graduation rate means about 72,000 more students have graduated than otherwise would have if rates had remained at the 2003-2004 level.
Programs such as Specialist High Skills Majors are one way the government is helping students stay in school and graduate.
Building a well-educated work force that helps Ontario compete in the global economy is part of Ontario’s plan to open the door to a bright future for high school graduates.
QUOTES
“From full-day kindergarten to higher graduation rates, we’re making sure our students get what they need to help Ontario succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. I want to thank our students, teachers and parents for their achievements and for helping us build a stronger Ontario.”
— — Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
“Ensuring more students graduate high school is vital to Ontario’s economic growth. This is good news and we are definitely heading in the right direction.”
— Laura Albanese, MPP York South-Weston
QUICK FACTS
§ § Ontario is committed to reaching an 85 per cent graduation rate.
§ § There are now over 1,000 Specialist High Skills Major programs in 18 diverse areas including forestry, construction, aviation and sports.
§ § Staying in school until the age of 18 or graduation has been the law since 2006.
LEARN MORE
See more about Ontario’s increasing graduation rate.
Find out more about the student success program.
(Share your views below and visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater Niagara region and beyond.)
Niagara At Large 
§ § “Staying in school until the age of 18 or graduation has been the law since 2006.”
Wow! The story implies that the improvement was due to better teaching! Hmmm.
This is one way to keep more people (teachers) in high-pay jobs, and more people (teens) off the unemployment stats, but it sure costs the taxpayer. And then, we have the question of how to find &/or keep private sector employers in Ontario (higher minimum wage, too many holidays, tax rates, high energy costs, more competitive US competition, lower US dollar, &c.)….
What’s the employment rate for these newly graduated young adults? How many go on to post-secondary education? (Remember Fiona’s earlier article about the ’employment value’ of higher education?)
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My grand children are recent grads, coming from a broken home they have no money, for a higher education, they are bright enough to do college or University no transportation and money ,are a major problem. I feel a lot of grads are in the same boat.
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