Backgrounder


McGuinty Government Working On Behalf Of High School Students

November 6, 2007

The McGuinty government is investing $19 million over the next four years in Pathways to Education. This investment, joined with a $10 million contribution by the United Way of Greater Toronto, will provide Pathways with resources to expand its operations to help students in Jamestown and Lawrence Heights in Toronto, and to students in Ottawa and Kitchener.

In Regent Park, Pathways to Education is a huge success with high school students. Since 2001, the Toronto District School Board has noted:

  • Reduced dropout rates to 14 percent from 56 per cent
  • Reduced absenteeism in schools by 65 per cent
  • Increased high school graduation rates to 75 per cent from 42 per cent: 80 per cent of these students go on to postsecondary education and training – a four-fold increase from the time prior to Pathways operating in the neighbourhood

Further, a July, 2007, review of Pathways in Regent Park identified a number of other, non-educational benefits associated with the results of Pathways. For example, it found a decrease in teen pregnancies since Pathways was established; a decrease in the smoking rate; and an increase in the general health of community members. Between 2004-05 and 2006-07, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities have invested about $2.6 million in Pathways.

Of those students going on to postsecondary education and training as a result of Pathways in Regent Park, 90 per cent are First Generation students.

First Generation students are those whose parents did not participate in postsecondary studies. Youth whose parents do not have a postsecondary education are 2.4 times less likely to attend college or university. These students face additional barriers to accessing studies at college, university or an apprenticeship. These barriers can include:

  • a lack of community supports needed to graduate from high school
  • insufficient information about the benefits of postsecondary education and training from friends and family
  • lower expectations or confidence about succeeding at college or university, and
  • limited financial resources

In February 2006, the government established an advisory committee on First Generation students. This committee has provided advice to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on access issues affecting first generation students and helps identify priority areas for conducting new research on reducing barriers to access.

To expand opportunities for these students, the Ontario government invested nearly $10 million in projects and bursaries from 2005 to 2007 at colleges, universities and community-based organizations to encourage first generation students to pursue a higher education.

Building on the success of the program, the McGuinty government is investing an additional $27 million over three years ($6 million in 2007-08; $9 million in 2008-09 and $12 million in 2009-10) to help first generation students. As well, an additional $3 million will be invested over three years in Ontario First Generation Student Bursaries to help eligible students with financial needs.

Today's investment builds on the work of the government's historic $6.2 billion Reaching Higher plan and student success strategy.

The McGuinty government has set an ambitious high school graduation rate target of 85 per cent for 2010-11 – a significant increase from 68 per cent in 2003-04. To reach every student, more teachers have been hired and more learning opportunities have been created. The result has been a rising graduation rate that is on track to achieve the government's target. When it is achieved, there will be 20,000 more students graduating every year from provincial high schools. The realities of not completing high school are harsh: dropping out doubles the chance of being unemployed and needing social assistance.

Ontario students have made progress increasing their participation in postsecondary education, with 40 per cent of 18-24 year olds participating in postsecondary education or training, compared to 35 per cent in 2002-03. The province also has one of the highest postsecondary graduate rates in the G-8 with 54.6 per cent of Ontarians aged 25 and older having completed postsecondary education or training.

Many First Generation students are likely to be among the large number of young people who enter high school but do not go on to postsecondary programs, including apprenticeship.

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