DSFM vocational program at MITT remains for 2026-2027 school year

Manitoba’s French language school division will continue having vocational programming taught through The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology throughtout next school year, after the college said it will close its doors.

Administration for Winnipeg-based MITT announced on Jan. 28 it will wind down operations and transfer selected programs to RRC Polytech. The college saw its international student enrolment drop by more than 55 percent, causing unsustainable “financial and operational shocks,” a press release said.

Luc Bremault, assistant superintendent for Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, said the announcement came as a “complete surprise.” DSFM is the only school division in the province without its own vocational programs and has relied on MITT to provide carpentry, electrical and metal workshops for students.

“These exploratory course that lead to more certifiable technical educational courses are indispensable,” he told The Carillon. “They’re very important to us, and we don’t have anything otherwise.”

MITT told the division there will be no change to programming throughout the rest of the current school year and 2026-2027, Bremault said. Afterwards, he said, the division learned from the province that teaching will transfer to RRC Polytech, but no details on the hand-off or how the classes will look have been revealed.

“We do remain cautiously optimistic that it will be maintained,” Bremault said.

Roughly 17 cohorts of Grade 9 and 10 students, totalling 272 pupils, were bused from DSFM schools into Winnipeg for their hands-on vocational courses, with 12 cohorts coming from southeastern Manitoba, he noted.

MITT instructors taught students in French, and pupils completed theoretical work in their classrooms.

“Having these programs all taught in French is just dynamite for us because it’s what we need and what we want,” he said.

DSFM schools have begun adding industrial arts classes, such as basic culinary skills, woodworking and sewing. La Broquerie’s École Saint-Joachim completed its $26.6 million expansion in November 2025. The expansion added 16 new classrooms and six new specialized spaces, including a new industrial arts space. The school became the division’s second to added shops class programming.

Bremault said the division is putting pressure on the province to add more industrial arts classes to its schools.

A program review is already underway, and the courses that will transfer to RRC Polytech are still being determined, said Lauren Parsons, spokesperson for RRC Polytech.

“This MITT program review will prioritize students and labour market needs and will determine which programs may be preserved and transferred to RRC Polytech, and which programs may no longer be offered,” she said in an email statement.

“The most important commitment we all share is to all students and their academic success.”

Parsons didn’t confirm if RRC Polytech will take over the vocational teaching for DSFM, but said information will be provided when available.