Historic Agreement Helps Aboriginal Students Succeed

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2009EDUC0002-000038
June 25, 2009

Ministry of Education

VANCOUVER – Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, the Vancouver Board of Education and local Aboriginal communities signed British Columbia’s 45th Aboriginal education enhancement agreement today, agreeing to improve student success and provide Aboriginal students in Vancouver with more Aboriginal culture and history in the classroom.“This is a tremendous step forward for Aboriginal students in the Vancouver school district, and I would like to congratulate local Aboriginal communities and the district for all of their hard work,” said MacDiarmid. “We all have a shared responsibility to embrace and celebrate the rich history and culture of Aboriginal communities. This education enhancement agreement will provide a supportive environment where Aboriginal voices, culture and history are respected.”

Aboriginal education enhancement agreements ensure that Aboriginal culture is integrated in public schools, and Aboriginal communities are involved in the design of programs, services and curriculum delivery aimed at improving Aboriginal student achievement.

Local Aboriginal groups, the school district and the Ministry of Education worked closely over the past five years to develop goals to help improve Aboriginal student achievement, which include:

· Ensuring that Aboriginal students achieve increased academic success in Vancouver schools and that they participate fully and successfully from kindergarten through the completion of Grade 12.

· Increasing Aboriginal students’ sense of pride, self-esteem, belonging, place, acceptance and caring in their schools.

· Increasing knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal histories, traditions, cultures and contributions by all students through eliminating institutional, cultural and individual racism within the Vancouver school district learning communities.

There are 2,159 students who were identified as being of Aboriginal ancestry in the Vancouver school district this year, representing 3.6 per cent of the district’s total enrolment.

“This agreement is a road map, to which the Vancouver board is fully committed for the benefit of our Aboriginal learners,” said Vancouver Board of Education chair Patti Bacchus. “The board looks forward to collaborating with Aboriginal communities to provide Aboriginal students with the tools they need to succeed. When we work side by side, respecting history and culture, the possibilities are endless for Aboriginal students.”

To date, 45 B.C. school districts have signed an Aboriginal education enhancement agreement. These agreements support the Province’s Pacific Leadership Agenda to build new relationships with Aboriginal peoples, as well as help schools meet the needs of Aboriginal students.

“On behalf of the Musqueam Indian Band, I am pleased at the signing of the Aboriginal education enhancement agreement. This agreement is important to us because it will hold all the parties involved accountable for providing support and ensuring the success of First Nations students,” said Musqueam Indian Band Chief Ernest Campbell. “The agreement will benefit Musqueam students and their culture and heritage by bringing First Nation culture and history into the schools and providing an educational tool to assist non-Aboriginal students, parents and teachers to have a greater awareness of who we are and of our culture and heritage.”

Many school districts have seen encouraging results following the signing of an Aboriginal education enhancement agreement. For example, the Quesnel school district signed its enhancement agreement in 2003. The district’s six-year completion rate increased from 41 per cent in 2003 to 57 per cent in 2007-08. Similarly, the Qualicum school district signed an enhancement agreement in 2003. The six-year completion rate in that district increased from 47 per cent to 60 per cent in 2007-08.

Aboriginal education enhancement agreements are just one component of the collaborative processes that the Province is undertaking to improve Aboriginal student achievement. Others include the new First Nations education jurisdiction agreement and developing Aboriginal content for the K-12 curriculum.

The Province is investing an estimated $52.6 million a year – $1,014 per student – for

Aboriginal education in 2009-10, based on district-estimated enrolments. The funds are used to support Aboriginal language and culture programs, Aboriginal support service programs, and other localized Aboriginal education programs.

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Contact:

Public Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963