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TORONTO—Skills Ontario is supportive of the Government of Ontario’s announcement to modernize the school science curriculum in the province to emphasize STEM and skilled trade education.

Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce was at the Ontario Science Centre recently to announce the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1 to 8: Science and Technology, 2022, and the planned changes to the new de-streamed Grade 9 science course, “are part of the government’s plan to align curriculum changes with the province’s economic needs and place an emphasis on critical life and job skills, including the fast-growing skilled trades,” indicates a government release.

The revised curriculum includes required learning on real-world connections between science, technology, engineering and mathematics. New expectations include coding; connecting STEM learning; emerging technology; skilled trades; and food literacy.

Skills Ontario CEO Ian Howcroft said as an organization dedicated to promoting careers in skilled trades and technologies to youth, it fully supports the modernization of the curriculum to include skilled trades and better address STEM.

“We encourage youth to explore these pathways as it is vital to our success as a province,” said Howcroft in a statement. “We are thrilled to continue our strong partnership with the Ontario government and the Ministry of Education, and we remain committed to supporting and encouraging the next generation of skilled trade and technology leaders.”

The new curriculum will be implemented in September 2022 for the 2022-23 school year.