It’s now possible to find a job without leaving school for some local secondary school students.
The Employment Services Centre of Prescott-Russell (CSEPR) is opening offices in French-language schools throughout the counties.
The new satellite offices are being funded by a $20,000 contribution from the Assemblée Francophone de l’Ontario (AFO), which is partly funded by FedDev-Ontario, the federal economic development agency.
Having CSEPR personnel in local secondary schools is intended to give francophone youth better access to services like the virtual career lab, job market information, and to also help lower the school drop-out rate among francophone students. The CSEPR also wants to better assist education professionals with ensuring young people are employable and that there is a skilled and competent workforce in the region.
CSEPR Orientation and Student Services Counsellor Lynda Tessier said that approximately 30 to 35 per cent of local secondary school students go straight from school and into the workforce.
“I’m proud that this is a project resulting from many partners in the community,” said CSEPR Director-General Caroline Arcand.
In addition to the CSEPR and AFO, the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario, the two French-language school boards serving Prescott-Russell.
Arcand is hoping the satellite office plan is replicated in other regions of Ontario. She noted that it is a pilot project at this stage and that the English-language school boards are also interested in having CSEPR services available in their schools. Under the plan with the French-language boards, CSEPR personnel will be in schools for scheduled hours. Approximately four CSEPR employees will be involved with the satellite offices in the French-language secondary schools.
