The Centre for Success continues its initiative to aid potential high school dropouts

Durham College celebrated the success of 150 students who completed their secondary school studies in the Centre for Success program on January 19 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre at the Oshawa campus.

The event brought board chairs; directors and principles from the Durham District; Durham Catholic District; Kawartha Pine Ridge District; and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Boards together alongside senior administration from Durham College and Ministry of Education representatives, Sebastian Franks, policy advisor and Audrey Cartile, education officer as they gathered to watch students receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

“Students have had some wonderful successes,” said Cartile. She went on to explain that the Centre for Success comes from a larger province-wide initiative known as Student Success, aimed at improving student graduation rates that were one of the lowest levels in a developed country prior to the introduction of the program.

Now in its sixth year of operation since its pilot project was launched at J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate in Ajax, Ont., the program has improved dropout rates by 13 per cent and continues to offer students an alternative way to transition to post-secondary education.

The Centre for Success, supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ School College Work Initiative, provides students at risk of leaving secondary school the opportunity to complete their OSSD on the Durham College campus.

Students enrolled in the program participate in courses that run at the same time as regular high school classes (September to January and February to June), taught by secondary school teachers from within the students’ school district, as well as enrolling in a college-level course taught by college faculty. If students wish to continue studying at Durham College upon completion of their OSSD, their prior college-level course may be taken into consideration if it’s required in the student’s post-secondary studies.

Since its inception, the Centre for Success has experienced a growing enrollment rate, engaging students in a college environment and allowing them an equal opportunity to succeed.

For Susan Pratt, School College Work Initiatives program co-ordinator, the program is essential for helping students reach their full potential.

Pratt, who is enthusiastic about the importance of having a program that helps every student succeed, said “It’s education responding to students’ needs.”

Visit the Centre for Success to learn more about this program.