Ontario students will soon be required to take a new course in order to graduate.

Starting in September 2024, students entering grade nine will be required to take a "Technology Education credit" course, a step the Doug Ford government says will help guide them towards jobs in a skilled workforce.

Students will also be able to choose from a number of courses approved through the "Technology Education" curriculum to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The curriculum includes a wide range of subjects such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, computer technology, hospitality, and communications.

The exact course details have not been provided.

This announcement was made late Friday morning by Education Minister Stephen Lecce in Mississauga, Ontario.

Lecce said the goal of this change is to create "new pathways to good jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and skilled trades."

He added in a statement before the announcement: "All students will benefit from increased focus on hands-on learning experiences and technical skills in the classroom so they can graduate with a competitive advantage in this country."

Lecce told reporters that there are "a huge number of courses available to students today" and more courses are added every year to address the technology education curriculum. However, the province will require more teachers to meet these needs.

Officials noted on Friday that men make up more than 70 percent of workers in trades-related occupations and they hope that compulsory exposure to these courses will encourage more women to take on jobs in the trades.

Similarly, nearly 39 percent of Ontario high school students were enrolled in a technology education course in 2020-2021. The government said nearly 64 percent of those students were male.

This announcement comes days after the government introduced a new program that will allow grade eleven students to earn their high school diploma while undergoing vocational training.