Education Minister says more needs to be done in K-12 system for skilled trades opportunities

Back in 2007, Paul Dinn worked with government to bring in the Skills Task Force designed to ramp up trades training in anticipation of projects.

He’s only been sworn in for slightly more than a week, but the province’s new Education Minister is making the rounds at some big meetings and announcements. Last week, Paul Dinn attended the Cenovus Energy event at Memorial University which included a $2.25M investment in programs at MUN and the Marine Institute. Key initiatives include the Student Design Hub in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Cenovus Energy Scholarships, Marine Institute competitions, The Cenovus on the Rock Field Course and MUN’s Limitless Leadership Program. Minister Dinn says these initiatives are all focused on our youth, our young leaders of tomorrow, and are very encouraging. 

Meanwhile, close to 6,000 tradespeople in NL are set to retire by the year 2032. Back in 2007, Dinn worked with government to bring in the Skills Task Force designed to ramp up trades training in anticipation of projects. He says not much has changed and projects come in waves, but the goal is to bring Newfoundlanders home to work and to keep our young people here. Dinn says looking forward, more needs to be introduced in the K-12 school system to give children more encouragement or opportunities in skilled trades. 

Dinn also brought greetings at the College of the North Atlantic’s Annual General Meeting last week, which was held at the Paul L. Pope Centre for TV and Film in St. John’s.