B.C.’s completion rate for Indigenous secondary-school students is the highest it has ever been, helped by an improved curriculum that reflects their culture, says the Ministry of Education.
The six-year completion rate for 2017-18 was up four per cent from the previous year to 70 per cent. That is also a jump from 62 per cent in 2013-14.
The completion rate, which counts students completing school within six years after enrolling in Grade 8, was at 58 per cent in 2017-18 for Indigenous students in the ongoing custody of the Ministry of Children and Family Development. That was up 18 per cent over 2013-14.
Indigenous students accounted for 11 per cent of the overall school population in 2017-18, with 70,487 in both public and independent schools.
The completion rate was 86 per cent for all students in 2017-18.
Laurie Szadkowski, acting district principal for Aboriginal education in the Sooke school district, said Indigenous students there are graduating at about a 70 per cent rate.
“In our district, Kathleen King is our usual district principal, and she’s made a really focused attempt to make sure that all students are learning.”
King has built good relationships with the three First Nations in the area: the T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht and Sc’ianew, Szadkowski said. There are about 1,175 Indigenous students in the district.
“As principals and teachers and educators, we’ve really worked at making our schools welcoming, physically and as far as relationship building.”
A program that brings Indigenous elders into the schools has been very successful, Szadkowski said.
Minister of Education Rob Fleming said Indigenous students were held back for too long by an education system that didn’t honour their communities or meet their needs.
“It’s inspiring to see how quickly Indigenous students respond when we begin to bring down barriers to their success,” Fleming said. “Their achievements are an important reminder of how we can’t rest until our schools support every student, no matter where they live.”
About $74 million is targeted each year in B.C. to support Indigenous students.
Tyrone McNeil, president of B.C.’s First Nations Education Steering Committee, said the increase in completion rates is encouraging and he expects a new agreement that brings together the committee and the provincial and federal governments will be especially valuable for status on-reserve students and children in care.
The ministry said more Indigenous teachers are being recruited and there are 17 First Nations languages with approved curricula — with another six in the works.
