David Hughes, CEO of the national Pathways program, and Carolyn Acker, the founder of the program, were in Spryfield today to view the neighbourhood and announce that the Pathways to Education will officially begin in Spryfield in September. David said that from what he and Carolyn have seen of Spryfield, it is a beautiful area with “wonderful people,” and they are very excited to be able to launch the first Pathways program outside of Ontario and Quebec.

The program aims to reduce the high school drop out rate, and will take in between 80 and 100 students. Spryfield currently has a dropout rate of 46 percent, according to research done by the Chebucto Connections local development agency.

The program will offer bus tickets, meal vouchers, and scholarships of up to $1000 per completed school year to eligible students within the catchment area of Cowie Hill to Green Acres.

It will be administered by Chebucto Connections. The program was originally developed for a troubled neighbourhood in Toronto, and saw a very high dropout rate slashed from 56 to 10 per cent.