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The Manitoba government has committed ongoing funding of $175,000 to Career Trek Inc. to support innovative programs that encourage children to complete high school and pursue post-secondary education, Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford announced today.

 

“Career Trek’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty by encouraging children from under-represented families to pursue post-secondary education to create a better future for themselves. Their mission statement, Stopping Poverty Through Education, says it all,” McGifford said.  “Since 1996, Career Trek has reached over 2,000 10- and 11-year-old children.  Most have finished college or university and work as professionals in Manitoba.”

 

Participants in the Career Trek program devote 20 Saturdays between October and April to classes at the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg and Red River College.  A parent component also involves families exploring career options and the advantages of higher learning.

 

“Students learn about various careers through hands-on experience, which is the type of experiential learning that works well for youth,” said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson. “Topics covered range from geological science and engineering to aviation technology, biology and theatre.  The program has been so successful that some parents have decided to further their education or begin a new career as a result of the information presented through Career Trek.”

 

Career Trek had a student completion rate of 88 per cent last year.  Long-term followup has also shown that about 50 per cent of students who completed the program as children subsequently enrolled in post-secondary education.  All Career Trek staff are post-secondary students and nearly half of them completed the Career Trek program.

 

“Our government’s commitment to making post-secondary education affordable and accessible for more Manitobans, including under-represented groups such as inner-city, immigrant and Aboriginal students, is well served by Career Trek,” McGifford said.