Highschool completion rate decreases for Prince Rupert Aboriginal students in 2018

A new report from the Ministry of Education shows that in 2018, highschool completion rates for Aboriginal students have levelled off in School District 52 (SD52) after a year of growth.

According to the 2018 How Are We Doing Aboriginal Report, Prince Rupert Aboriginal students had a six-year completion rate of 62 per cent, down from 63 percent in 2017. That number is 19 percent lower than Non-Aboriginal students and 8 per cent lower than the provincial average for Aboriginal student across the province.

Data obtained from the Ministry of Education.

Aboriginal males (56 per cent) also had a lower overall completion rate compared to Aboriginal females (66 per cent).

“We have work to do within that group because of course, we want all of our students to graduate with purpose and a positive outlook when they leave our school system,” said SD52 superintendent Irene LaPierre.

LaPierre said that narrowing the gap between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal students is something the district has been working hard on. She referenced work done by the district’s aboriginal education department to implement the province’s new curriculum by incorporating Aboriginal language and culture into classroom lessons.

“What’s really important is that aboriginal kids see themselves in the curriculum, they see themselves in land-based learning and place-based learning. When they see themselves in the curriculum, then it makes more sense to them,” she said.

One way LaPierre hopes to address the issues is through the implementation of a literacy plan focused on ensuring all students are reading by the time they reach Grade 3.

“If students aren’t reading by the time they’re in Grade 3, that lessens the chance of their completion as they move through school,” she said. “So we have to start right from the beginning and get that strength of reading with all students.

“Once you see an increase in our literacy and numeracy, you’ll see an increase in our completion rates across the board.”

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Matthew Allen | Reporter

Matthew Allen