Winnipeg high school gets $300K for cyber security academy

Sisler High School's network andcyber security academy is getting an upgrade.

On Thursday, the province announced it's investing $300,000 to create a network andcyber security virtual data centre.

The money will also be used toupdate classrooms.

Part of our agenda in the provincial government is to ensure that young people in high school have real opportunities to get good jobs for the future," said Premier Greg Selinger. "When a student goes to school here they get the regular academic program, but they also get this advanced training in cyber security."

The premier said students will get mentorship experiences, the opportunity to work on the best equipment and an understanding of the labour market before even graduating from high school.

SislerHigh School studentJarrenMercado was excited about the chance to show the premier some of the work students do in the program.

"That's something that most students don't even get to do," saidMercado.

The school isworking closely to connect students with internships at leading companies and employers in the fields ofInformation and technology, networking andcybersecurity.

The academy also gives studentsaccess to dual credits through partnerships with Red River College and theUniversity of Winnipeg.