In 521 this week we reflected on the question: Educational goals: Are Indigenous communities different? The goal of education is to create well rounded individuals who contribute positively to society. I think that this is the goal of any of education system however the means by which we achieve our goals are different and the nature of the society we are contributing to may be different. It is easy to see that we are not achieving this goal with our current education system. According to the 2007/2010 Labour Force Survey, the dropout rate among First Nations people living off reserve, Metis and Inuit was 14% higher than non-Aboriginal people.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2010004/article/11339-eng.htm
Our education system is doing things to close the achievement gap including specialized career training for aboriginal youth. Programs such as Harper’s Skills and Training for Aboriginal Youth help First Nations youth get and maintain employment which is empowering for the individuals involved and for younger First Nations students who will benefit by having positive role-models and examples of success.