The Howe Sound School Board decided this week that core university prerequisite high school courses will be offered annually at Whistler Secondary.
They include French 12, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12. The courses will also be offered at Howe Sound Secondary and Pemberton Secondary. Both those schools will also offer B.C. First Nations 12.
"I am really pleased to have made those motions and that the board approved them," said school trustee Don Brett, who has championed this change since he was first elected three years ago.
"The fundamental goal of the public education system is to prepare students all the way through school for what happens after they finish high school. So to get them to Grade 12 then not offer the courses to get into post-secondary institutions means you are tripping at the last hurdle and we don’t want that to happen."
The change also encourages high schools to explore other courses that might help students with post secondary education and training.
Pemberton Secondary is already offering a carpentry and framing course in conjunction with a college and Howe Sound is offering culinary arts.
To run each class will cost approximately $12,000 said district superintendent Rick Erickson. The money will be drawn from revenues earned from the International School Program.
