A new initiative supported by the provincial government will ensure all Manitoba students have the opportunity to access post-secondary courses while still in high school.
The First-Year Now initiative will give students the opportunity to start planning for higher learning in high school, take university and college courses, and earn dual credits.
“High school should be a launch pad for students, not a finish line,” said Premier Greg Selinger. “Students should be able to get a head start, explore careers without being locked in and graduate with a sense of direction and purpose.”
The initiative is modeled after a successful program in Seven Oaks School Division, which has been delivering dual-credit courses in partnership with the University of Winnipeg and Université de Saint-Boniface.
“Giving high school students a taste of university academics in a familiar atmosphere builds confidence, allows for a more seamless transition and leads to greater success in future studies,” said Dr. Annette Trimbee, president and vice-chancellor, University of Winnipeg.
Dual credits are courses that count as high school credits and college or university credits. They save students and parents time and money by giving students a head start and reducing the number of courses required to complete a post-secondary education after high school.
