The School Within a Factory (SWAF) program is changing the way students obtain their high school diploma by bringing education to them.
At the Wellington North mayor’s breakfast event on May 5, organizers from the program spoke about the impact it has had on the community.
Open to any adult 18 years or older and working full time, the SWAF program allows workers who have not obtained all their high school credits to earn them without sacrificing time at work or home. Students attend on their own schedule and teachers provide one-on-one support to help them through the courses.
The idea came from co-op teacher Deb Kortleve, who saw a need when she was providing co-op supervisions and evaluations at Linamar in Guelph.
“There’s all these other people, not just the ones that she was working with, who wanted to earn their high school diploma,” said Jennifer Watson, one of the teachers who developed the program.
“And some of them were older, meaning that these current student success initiatives didn’t exist when they left high school. They left undetected and didn’t return and there weren’t the support systems at the time like there are today.”
The Guelph program now has 72 students, double what program organizers expected.
Early in the development of the program, questions were raised about why companies should participate if there is a chance that employees could leave.
Watson said having employees enrolled means moving the company forward in terms of literacy and numeracy.
“Yes, some may leave, but … improving literacy and numeracy will help your bottom line with health and safety,” she said.
SWAF teacher Tyler Holland added there are many reasons for students to enroll, including wanting to qualify for a promotion or just to say they “did it.”
Expanded from the program in Guelph, Watson and Holland are eager to get the ball rolling for what they called “SWAF North.”
Musashi Auto Parts Inc. in Arthur has already offered its facility and 12 students are signed up.
Watson is looking for two more facilities, possibly one in Mount Forest and one in Palmerston, and for a total of 40 sign ups in order to start next fall.
“We as educators want to come to you and your employees to help them get their high school diploma,” Watson stated.
Wellington Heights Secondary School principal Jennifer Meeker said the community needs this program.
“School does not happen now just in the four walls of the building, it happens out in your community,” she said.
She added that, as a principal, she gains “a culture within the community where education is valued and where education is important.”
Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox and Minto Mayor George Bridge added words of support for the program.
“We believe that strong educational facilities and educational opportunities are very strong drivers of our economic prosperity,” said Lennox.
Bridge added, “I know our employers, they’re people who live for their employees … this is something for their tool kit.”
For more information about the program email Watson at Jennifer.watson@ugdsb.on.ca.
