High school students interested in autobody repair work will benefit from expanded work placement options following a partnership between the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre and the Saskatchewan Association of Autobody Repairs.

The two entities have signed a one-year agreement that allows high school students to take part in 25-50 hours of hands-on training at one of the 150 SAAR member locations, following 50-75 hours of online theory through DLC.

DLC CEO Darren Gasper says these Grade 10, 11, and 12 students will learn a wide variety of skills during the work placement. These include learning how to assess cost, repair damage, as well refinish, repaint, and detail a vehicle.

He adds that the partnership provides students from both urban and rural communities with equal opportunity.

“We really expand those elective options for students in any school in Saskatchewan, including those rural ones, so that they can find a program that they’re really passionate about, and in many of the cases, get out there and experience what that job is like in a work placement setting,” Gasper says.

Sam Chubak is a Grade 10 student from outside of Saskatoon that has completed both the online theory and the hands-on training. He says there were no obstacles on his journey through the program, and he didn’t find the online learning portion difficult.