Indigenous grad rates in Nanaimo-Ladysmith have trended sharply upwards over recent years thanks to a new curriculum and better community support. (Pxhere)

By Alex Rawnsley

GRAD RATES

“What is good for the Indigenous student is good for all:” Aboriginal grad rates trend upwards

Jan 5, 2020 | 1:18 PM

NANAIMO — A new BC curriculum, more community support and trend-setting youth are among the factors being credited for a sharp increase in the local Indigenous grad rate.

The Indigenous grad rate in Nanaimo rose to 69.2 per cent in 2018-19, up from just over 50 per cent in 2016-17. The rate had steadily fallen for three years before reversing course in the 2017-2018 year.

Chris Beaton, executive director of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, told NanaimoNewsNOW more grads means more than a few extra Dogwood diplomas being handed out.

“Indigenous students are the fastest growing demographic in Canada…this is our future workforce,” Beaton said. “If they’re not skilled or trained or see themselves as members of the Canadian economy and local community, that doesn’t serve any of us very well.”

Ted Cadwallader is the Director of Instruction for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools, with a responsibility for Indigenous learning.

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He said the district has taken a closer look at who is coming through their system and how they can be proactive in helping graduate more students.

“Some of our students may be one or two courses away from being able to graduate so we need to look at a strategies that will give them credits for experiences in the job world or tribal journey’s or doing something outside of school that we might not recognize currently,” Cadwallader said.

Beaton said with proper supports the grad rate can snowball as more Indigenous grads show others the way.

“They become role models to our other Aboriginal learners in the district. These are older brothers, sisters or cousins and they are leading the way.”

Beaton said the new BC curriculum lets teachers better tailor lessons to their classrooms.

“When a teacher sees the makeup of their classroom being largely Indigenous, they now have the freedom to deliver education in a manner that’s reflective of Indigenous culture.”

Grad rates for indigenous students are among the most improved over the last three years. (School District 68)

Even with a sharp increase, Nanaimo still lags behind other like-sized communities. Vernon (76.2 per cent) and New Westminster (75 per cent) both saw larger year over year increases.

“There’s much more work to do,” Beaton said. “What the numbers say to me is that a little over 30 per cent of our high school students are not graduating yet. What more can we do so we can continue this trend and not see it slip back at all?”

Powell River grew the largest year-over-year at 44 per cent. The district hired additional Aboriginal support workers for students.

“We shouldn’t reinvent the wheel every time we look at an issue,” Beaton said. “We can look around the province and on Vancouver Island at what’s working in other districts…there’s always lessons to be learned from other communities.”

The District continues to pool resources to improve grad rates and services for Indigenous students.

“Putting our finite resources in schools where we think they’d have the most impact, supporting teachers in classrooms with effective strategies and monitoring the impacts of those strategies,” Cadwallader said. “That approach has been a focus over the last decade and we’re just starting to see those results in graduation rates.”

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley