CIS offers opportunities for the unemployed

Th3 following press release was issued by Judy Malfara of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on November 2:

Layoffs and plant closures are taking their toll in the Cobourg area. Many highly skilled, experienced workers find themselves unable to access job opportunities because they lack their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Some of these workers have turned to the Centres for Individual Studies (CIS) for help. In fact, over 100 students earned their high school diplomas at the Cobourg CIS last year. The majority were adult learners. Among them were people who were continuing their education through support from Employment Insurance and the Second Career initiative.

An OSSD provides the foundation for a wide variety of career paths, such as re-entry to the workforce, college programs, apprenticeships and promotion into supervisory roles. It is valid at any post secondary institution or workplace.

The time required to earn an OSSD is comparable to, or shorter than, other forms of upgrading. Many adults who come to the CIS are surprised by how quickly they can earn their secondary school diploma.

They may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), a process through which they may be granted high school credits for their life experiences and on-the-job learning gained after they left high school. Adults who must juggle work and school may also be able to earn co-operative education credits while making a living. They do not need to quit their jobs to earn their diploma.

“Registration at the CIS begins with an education plan that is tailored to each individual’s goals, and that recognizes the obstacles faced when working and caring for families,” says CIS Principal Pam Pryjma. “Flexible class times and a caring, knowledgeable staff make it possible for adults to brave the challenges of returning to school and achieving their goals.

“No matter what a student’s goals may be, a high school diploma fits everything,” she adds.

“CIS has always been an excellent place for those pursuing a high school diploma to work at their own pace in a supportive environment that respects the need for flexibility, which adults often require,” notes Rob Andrews, Superintendent of Student Success.

The Cobourg CIS campus is one of three operated by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. There are campuses in Bowmanville and Peterborough as well.

For information, please call:

Pam Pryjma, Principal, Centres for Individual Studies, 905-372-1697