Yorkton Regional High School's electronics program has gained a major partner, with SaskTel and the school signing a Memorandum of Understanding to partner with the program.
Mike Haczkewicz, principal of YHRS, says that the big advantage for the school is real life experience with the trades right in the classroom.
"You always ask the teacher, 'why are we doing this?' Well here is the answer, because you do this in the real world with SaskTel. This leads to a career down the road, it's huge for the students."
The electronics program has grown substantially over the last few years, Haczkewicz notes, and this takes it to the next level, given that it is connected to an eventual career.
For SaskTel, the partnership has a clear goal at the end, they want to see students from the class join their workforce. Leanne Woodhouse with SaskTel says that they want students to know about the options they have with the company, and prepare them for the workforce. Recruiting is a challenge given the booming economy, Woodhouse says, and that makes programs like these important to reach the next generation of employees.
"We're always looking for new, young people to join our organization, particularly in rural and district locations. This helps us develop that talent pool."
YRHS is the fourth partner school, the first outside of Saskatoon and Regina. The school was selected because SaskTel knew about the success YRHS had in the robotics program, Woodhouse says, and they thought it would be a good fit for the corporation.
For Haczkewicz's part, he sees this as something that YRHS would like to see more of into the future, for the sake of the school's students.
"I'm hoping that this opens the door to other partnerships in the future. Obviously they want that commodity that we're putting out the door each June, those Grade 12 graduates. Not everyone's suited for the University world, some are suited for the trades or joining the work world, and this is perfect."
