Ontario’s New Graduation Requirement Spurs Innovation in Technology Education
In 2023, the Ontario Ministry of Education announced a major shift in secondary education: beginning in fall semester of September 2024, all students are required to complete at least one credit in a technical education course to graduate. The goal is clear – give every student hands-on exposure to trades, design, and digital manufacturing, while attempting to close Ontario’s growing skilled-trades gap.
While this change does introduce thousands of students to alternate career paths, it also exposed a serious challenge: a province-wide shortage of qualified technology teachers. Across Ontario, school boards are scrambling to find innovative ways to ensure educators have the training, tools, and confidence to deliver effective, hands-on instruction – and in our case, in CAD/CAM + CNC machining.
Simply Technologies’ Response
At Simply Technologies Group Inc., we see this as more than a challenge – it’s a call to action. With over nineteen years of experience supporting more than 3,500 schools across North America, we have learned a lot about our industry, and knew it was time to provide educators with a resource that could potentially solve this shortage, and provide sustainability in their CNC curriculum.
1. EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY Academy: Building Teacher Confidence + Competence
Our EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY Teacher Training and Certification Program was designed specifically to help educators transition into teaching CAD, CAM, and CNC technology with confidence. The 16-session program walks teachers step-by-step through setup, operation, and instruction – giving them both the technical knowledge and classroom resources they need.
Every participant receives access to ready-to-teach lesson guides and PowerPoint presentations, helping them bring modern manufacturing concepts to life for their students.
Unlimited school licenses start at $1,000, making it one of the most affordable and scalable teacher-training resources available today.
2. Classroom-Ready CNC Machines for Every Program
For schools introducing or expanding CNC programs, Simply Technologies offers a complete line of educationally focused machines. Our ACADEMY Series models feature full polycarbonate safety enclosures with interlocking doors, integrated dust collection, and a compact footprint – designed specifically for classroom use.
For advanced programs, the Performance Series delivers industrial-grade precision, larger work areas (up to 48” x 48”), and options like automatic tool changers and vacuum tables.
All machines ship directly from our London, Ontario warehouse and include start-up help from our team, ensuring a smooth launch for every school.
3. Unlimited Technical Support – For Educators, by Experts
Every Simply Technologies system comes with unlimited technical support, providing teachers and administrators with direct access to our knowledgeable team. Whether it’s software setup, toolpath troubleshooting, or hardware calibration, our experts are just a call or email away.
We don’t outsource support – you’ll always speak to someone who understands both the technology and the classroom environment. From initial setup to long-term maintenance, our team ensures every teacher feels confident operating and teaching with their CNC system.
Simply put, our support doesn’t end at installation — it’s ongoing, responsive, and has your success in mind.
Empowering the Next Generation
Ontario’s new requirement represents a pivotal opportunity – to connect classrooms directly to careers, and inspire a new generation of skilled makers, designers, and engineers.
At Simply Technologies, we’re proud to partner with schools across the province to make that vision a reality, and we will do our very best to provide the technology, training, and support that educators need to help students thrive in the era of digital manufacturing.
I’d love to chat more about this if you are interested. Just shoot me an email!
Sincerely,
Steve Stevenson