Fewer Canadian Indigenous students graduate from high school than non-Indigenous students. On the 1996 Census, urban Aboriginal students were less likely than non-Aboriginal urban students to graduate high school (Hanselmann, 2001). This trend continued into 2006 when urban Aboriginal students were more likely to drop out of high school than non-aboriginal students (Envionics Institute, 2012). Statistics Canada 2006 census highlights the disparity of levels in education attained between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. Statistics Canada highlighted this disparity of education attainment in the Labour Force Survey data, for 2007/2010 where the dropout rate for Indigenous students living off-reserve was 22.6% vs. 8.5% for non-Indigenous people (Gilmore, 2010). The statistics indicate there continues to be issues with how Indigenous students receive formal education.
Education ministries and school districts across Canada report lower than average graduation rates and achievement levels for Indigenous students. Why does this occur? The province of British Columbia stated in 2000 only 42% of Aboriginal students graduated from high school compared to almost 80% of non-Aboriginals (Morin, 2004). Similarly, nearly one-third of the Indigenous population in Ontario does not hold any type of diploma (Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, 2012). These statistics need to change. In order to accomplish this, I believe it is essential for all levels of the education system to assess the experience of Indigenous students, including teachers.