Yellowknife (Feb 12/03) - Only one in five Yellowknife high school grads are choosing to go to university, according to Skills Canada/NWT/NU.

The question for many schools facing that fact is what is happening to the other 80 per cent.

"There are quite a number that go onto trades or are working," said Susan Huvenaars, co-ordinator at of the Bridges program at St. Patrick high school.

Bridges helps students make the transition from school to the workplace.

Last week was Apprenticeship Week in the NWT and St. Pat's used the time to promote trades and skilled labour.

"I think it's very valuable. If you only have 20 per cent going to university, what do you do with other 80 per cent?" asked Huvenaars.

"By offering some of these other programs we can address some of these other needs."

Jared Simpson, a Grade 12 student at St. Pat's, is working at Buffalo Airlines and plans to go into aircraft mechanics after he graduates.

He said the interest came following apprenticeship activities held at the school last year.

"I read up on it and decided it was something I wanted to do," he said.

Simpson said trade work presents a much different lifestyle than university or other academic pursuits may offer.

"In university you're just taking notes. In trades you actually get to do what you're learning," he said.

Grade 11 student Nicole Dennis is also looking to trades as a career choice.

"I want to get work in the trades, that's for sure. Whether it's hairdressing or something else, but definitely a trade. I enjoy hands-on work," she said.

Dennis said there is a misconception that trade work is grunt work, or an occupation for the less educated. She said that is just not true and "in a lot of cases people in trades make more money."