District 57 has $30,000 to play with in provincial funding in order to help its high school students with trades training.
District superintendent Brian Pepper said the money will go into an existing program - the Secondary School Apprenticeship Program - which is open to Grades 10 to 12 over the age of 15.
"The transformation of learning across the province involves connecting students with learning in new and different ways and hands-on activities of which trades, by the very nature of the word, provides another opportunity to do that," Pepper said.
"The program is valuable, the support is valuable. we need a skilled workforce especially in the LNG corridor and in central, Northern B.C."
Trades training has been a focus of the district and was included as an objective in its three-year achievement contract, published in July 2014.
Last year, 96 students took the dual-credit program, which allows them to get high school credit toward graduation and gain apprenticeship hours - or as the release said "earn while they learn."
Tuesday's announcement included 25 other BC school districts that will receive funding for the current school year through the Industry Training Authority, a provincial body. At the end of October, 1,732 youth apprentices were in SSA programs across B.C.
The funding is earmarked to help school districts cover costs of staff who help youth find an apprentice sponsor.
"Finding an employer who will sponsor their apprenticeship is one of the biggest challenges facing youth looking for a career in the trades," the release said.
District 57 had partnerships with more than 70 local employers for its apprenticeships last year. One partner is the College of New Caledonia, where students learn any number of trades in a college environment, including heavy duty mechanics, commercial transport, electrician training and carpentry. The district also partners with the Construction Association on a three-day apprenticeship.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said exposing high school students to skilled training better prepares them sooner for future job opportunities.
"We are working to do everything we can to ensure that young people are equipped for careers in our growing economy," she said in the release.
A focus on trades is beneficial on two fronts, said Pepper.
One, it's a new way to learn. Pepper noted a student can learn fractions with paper and pen, but the same lesson can be taught while working.
"You can measure and build where you are actually utilizing fractions in a way that you may not previously done it," he said.
"You get a different understanding, so that's the bigger picture. The other is just the need for individuals that have trades training in order to meet the economic engine, so to speak, or the economic opportunities of the province."
