Education/training

OYAP: Helping students build dreams

Choosing a path that will lead to meaningful employment can be a difficult decision -- but not for Nizam Shaikh.

AUNIE EDWARDS

[ 2002-05-29 ]

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OYAP student Nizam Shaikh (right) learns the foundations of bricklaying through his placement at MVP Masonry.

He's a senior co-op student at York Humber High School and he holds the enviable position of knowing what he wants and how he's going to get it.

Shaikh's goal is to become a licensed bricklayer. "I've been planning this for quite a while -- and suddenly the timing and the opportunity presented themselves and everything turned perfect. Now I'm on my way," says Shaikh.

Without a community minded business, Shaikh's plan would not be unfolding so neatly. Enter MVP Masonry -- a family operation that has made the commitment to help Shaikh realize his goals.

"Nizam is being treated very well at MVP Masonry -- they have signed him on as an apprentice bricklayer and he's presently learning on the job at a new home construction site," says Pat Pincente, Shaikh's co-op teacher at York Humber.

As a first level apprentice under the close supervision of a licensed bricklayer, Shaikh is earning a handsome wage.

"The union pre-determines the wage scale that an apprentice is entitled to," says Margaret Pacheco, MVP Masonry. "After six months, Nizam will earn $21.31 per hour and when he reaches the third level, his wage increases to $23.75 an hour." By the time Shaikh achieves his license, he'll be earning almost $30 an hour.

Significant wages are not the only great advantage of Shaikh's chosen path. As a member of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Shaikh's high school co-op hours will be applied to his apprenticeship.

"OYAP is a great opportunity and Nizam understands that," says Pincente. "He hasn't even graduated yet, but he's already found paid, steady work and his training is a well planned and perfectly attainable package." Through OYAP, Shaikh gains a substantial head start on his apprenticeship while still achieving all the requirements to graduate from high school in June.

To meet those requirements, Shaikh spends every Friday in class at York Humber. "We discuss issues like the language of the workplace, communication and problem solving skills, unions, labour and health and safety," says Pincente.

The homeschool also works to ease the transition between classroom and workplace. "We're there to support the students and the employers. We can help make the placements a success by creating good matches but also by maintaining the proper lines of communication throughout the student's work term," says Pincente.

With work and training neatly organized, Shaikh's future looks bright -- but the job is not without its challenges. Says Pacheco, "Good brick work takes skill. You must accomplish a clean look and if one brick is off, the wall will have to come down and be rebuilt."

The difficulty of the task does nothing to dampen Shaikh's enthusiasm. "This job is beautiful -- I love it," says Shaikh. "And practice makes perfect, so every day that I spend with MVP Masonry, I get a little bit better."

This positive approach has served him well and Shaikh's employers are pleased. "Nizam listens -- he's a good worker," says Pacheco.

Like every apprenticeship, Shaikh must accumulate hours before he can apply for his bricklayer's license. It will take approximately three years to gain the required experience and, through OYAP's high school involvement, Shaikh is well on his way.

He must then fulfill several union requirements, after which a license is gained and the brick and stone mason apprentice becomes the skilled tradesperson.

"I'm going all the way with this."

Education requirements

Students must complete a minimum of three in-school credits per year.

Schools are required to monitor the program offered in the workplace to ensure it meets secondary school credit requirements.

To receive their high school diploma, students must still complete all compulsory credits.

Apprenticeship requirements

Students must be placed with a qualified employer.

Students must follow an on-the-job training program based on the specific standards for the trade. They may also receive related theoretical instruction.