The Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia presented our report,
An Audit of the Education of Aboriginal Students in the B.C. Public School System, to the Legislative Assembly today.
An Audit of the Education of Aboriginal Students in the B.C. Public School System In 2005, the B.C. government publicly committed to close the gaps in education outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students by 2015. At the time, Aboriginal students graduated at a rate of 49%, compared to 82% for non-Aboriginal students. By 2014, 62% of Aboriginal students had graduated, compared to 85% of non-Aboriginal students. An improvement indeed, but more can be done.
The Ministry of Education has overall responsibility for the public education system. We found that the ministry:
- had not provided the education system with sufficient leadership and direction to close the gaps
- undertook limited analysis of the wide range of student outcome data it monitored, to understand trends and outcomes for Aboriginal students and inform change
- reported on outcomes but not what was effective in closing the gaps
Among the 11 recommendations in our report, is that the Ministry of Education collaborate with boards of education, superintendents, and Aboriginal leaders and communities to lead the creation of a shared, system-wide strategy to close the gaps in academic and social outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.
Improving Aboriginal education benefits all students and a better educated population supports economic development throughout the Province.
