Thumbs up for Aboriginal schools

Native-only getting the thumbs-up from BC's child advocate
Feb, 29 2008 - 12:40 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - A native-only public school proposal in Prince George is getting the thumbs-up from BC's child advocate.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says the education system needs to do more to improve graduation rates for aboriginal children, and that means celebrating their native heritage through courses and activities.

"Many first nations students in British Columbia feel they have challenges in some of their school settings, especially in the urban context, they experience racism, they may experience exclusion. We have to work on that, but we may also need to create some choices where you have those schools."

BC has an 80 percent graduation rate, but only 48 percent of aboriginal children graduate....that rate falls to 15 percent for aboriginal children in care.