Province expands skilled trades opportunities for high school students

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is expanding skilled trades education opportunities in high schools for the 2026-27 school year.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development says the expansion provides additional teaching hours ranging from 6.25 to 12.5 hours per week, giving students more flexibility to add skilled trades courses to their schedules.

Skilled trades courses are increasing at 21 schools across the province, including schools in St. John’s, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Marystown and several other communities.

The schools receiving increased skilled trades programming are:

• Elwood Regional High in Deer Lake

• Corner Brook Regional High in Corner Brook

• Discovery Collegiate in Bonavista

• Stephenville High in Stephenville

• Lewisporte Collegiate in Lewisporte

• Lakewood Academy in Glenwood

• Jane Collins Academy in Hare Bay

• Glovertown Academy in Glovertown

• Marystown Central High in Marystown

• Heritage Collegiate in Musgravetown

• Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John’s

• Carbonear Collegiate in Carbonear

• Crescent Collegiate in Blaketown

• Holy Trinity High in Torbay

• Waterford Valley High in St. John’s

• St. Michael’s Regional High in Bell Island

• St. Catherine’s Academy in St. Catherine’s

• Exploits Valley High in Grand Falls-Windsor

• J.M. Olds Collegiate in Twillingate

• Pasadena Academy in Pasadena

• Indian River High in Springdale

The courses being expanded include Design and Fabrication 1202 and 2202, Skilled Trades 1201, Residential Construction Technology 2201 and Power and Energy 3201.

The government says skilled trades programming is also expanding to six additional rural schools through the Centre for Learning and Development Innovation.

It says all waitlists for skilled trades courses have been eliminated, providing students with more opportunities to explore careers in the sector.

The expansion supports a commitment in the provincial government’s Blue Book to expand skilled trades programs through a high school pre-apprenticeship program.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Paul Dinn says developing the province’s skilled trades workforce is important to strengthening the economy and preparing for future industrial opportunities.

“Increasing the number of skilled tradespeople working in our province is critical as we work to strengthen the economy, revitalize rural communities, and attract new industries,” Dinn says.

He says expanding students’ exposure to skilled trades can help them begin preparing for careers in the province.

The government says the expanded programming is also intended to help prepare students for future opportunities in projects such as Bay du Nord, Churchill Falls and Gull Island.