• The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations and other stakeholders to provide a quality, culturally relevant education for First Nations learners that assists them to achieve their educational goals and aspirations. This objective is facilitated through a variety of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's education programs, most notably the Elementary/Secondary Education Program and the Post-Secondary Education Program.
  
  
• In 2004-05, the Government of Canada will spend about $1.1 billion on First Nations elementary/secondary education for approximately 120,000 students These costs include instructional services to eligible students attending First Nations schools, the reimbursement of costs for on-reserve students attending provincial schools, instructional services in federal schools (seven remaining schools) and student support services (i.e. transportation, counselling, accommodation). Also included is $89 million for James Bay and Northen Quebec Agreement, $101 million for Special Education and $8.5 million for 111 Cultural Education Centres.
  
  
• Total enrolment of First Nations students normally resident on-reserve in elementary/secondary education, in both on-reserve and off-reserve schools, has increased approximately 16 percent over the last 10 years.
  
  
• The high school completion rate for First Nation students living on-reserve increased from 37 percent in 1996 to 41 percent in 2001. (Source: 1996 and 2001 Censuses)
  
  
• Approximately 60 percent of First Nations students living on-reserve attend First Nations band-operated schools. The remaining 40 percent attend provincial, federal or private schools. For those students, funds are transferred to local school boards operating under the provincial system to cover the costs of tuition.
  
  
• Over the last 10 years the number of band-operated schools, managed directly by First Nations, has increased 33 percent from 372 to 496. Many students must travel from their communities to attend provincial secondary schools. While 80 percent of Indian and Northern Affairs-funded students in Grade one attend First Nation schools, by Grade 12, 55 percent of students are attending provincial schools.
  
  
• Since 2002-03, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and First Nations have been working together to implement a new Special Education Program.
  
  
• The primary focus of a new Parental and Community Engagement Strategy is to raise the awareness of parents and community members of their valuable role in their children's education and to provide the necessary supports to help ensure that they can be active in that role.
  
  
• The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy provides youth with greater access to the skills and experience they need to gain access to, and succeed in, the labour market. In 2002-03, there were a total of 32,231 youth who participated in the strategy and since its inception in 1996, it has supported more than 120,000 opportunities for First Nations and Inuit youth in their pursuit of rewarding careers.
  
  
• In 2004-05, the Post-Secondary Education Program is expected to support approximately 26,000 First Nations and Inuit students with planned spending of $305 million. Almost all post-secondary funding is administered by First Nations and Inuit organizations.
  
  
• First Nations and Inuit participation in post-secondary education has increased rapidly. From 1987 to 2001, the number of registered First Nations and Inuit students enrolled in post-secondary education funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has almost doubled from approximately 14,000 to about 26,000. About 4,500 of these students graduate annually. (Some Aboriginal students participate and graduate from post-secondary education studies funded from other sources).
  
  
• Although the gap in educational attainment between First Nations youth and other Canadian youth remains, there has been significant improvement. In 1991, the high school completion rate for First Nations' students on reserve was 31.4 percent. This increased to 41.4 percent in 2001 -- an increase of a full 10 percent. In comparison, the Canadian population high school completion rate increased 6.9 percent over the same period (from 61.8 percent to 68.7 percent). Although the First Nation high school completion rate is well below the Canadian rate, it is good news that the rate has been increasing over time and is growing at a fast rate.
  
  
• Although Canada has consistently scored well on the Human Development Index, First Nations populations in Canada have generally lower health, income, and educational outcome results than the total Canadian population. Between 1991 and 2001, education made the single greatest contribution (59.5 percent) to closing the gap compared to the indicators of life expectancy (21.6 percent) and income (18.9 percent).
  
  
• The First Nations population (on- and off-reserve) with a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree increased from 20 to 23 percent from 1996 to 2001. For all Canadians it increased from 35 to 38 percent.
  
  
• The majority of First Nations Indian and Northern Affairs Canada-funded post-secondary students enroll on a full-time basis and almost 70 percent of these students in 2002-2003 were women.
  
  
• Educational attainment has a significant positive impact on employment rates of First Nations women. Some 32 percent of First Nation women (compared to 41 percent of non-Aboriginal women) without a high school certificate are employed, whereas with a college certificate/diploma/degree this percentage increases to 71 percent (compared to 72 percent of non-Aboriginal women) and with a university degree employment rates increase to 84 percent (compared to 78 percent of non-Aboriginal women).
  
  
• Women's average income increases by educational attainment. First Nations women having less than Grade 9 education have an average income of $11,175 (compared to $14,249 for non-Aboriginal women). This increases to $15,174 for First Nation women with secondary certification and $22,489 with post-secondary certification (compared to $29,363 and $29,953 respectively for non-Aboriginal women).
  
  
• Educational attainment has a significant positive impact on employment rate of First Nations males. Some 42 percent of First Nation men (compared to 62 percent of non-Aboriginal men) without a high school certificate are employed, whereas with a college certificate/diploma/degree this percentage increases to 81 percent (compared to 83 percent of non-Aboriginal men) and with a university degree employment rates increase to 86 percent (compared to 82 percent of non-Aboriginal men) (2001 census).
  
  
• Men's average income increase by educational attainment. First Nations men having less than a Grade 9 education have an average income of $14,317 (compared to $22,721 for non-Aboriginal men). This increases to $20,819 for First Nation men with secondary certification and $27,052 with post-secondary certification (compared to $32,041 and $48,371 respectively for non-Aboriginal men).
  
  
• Over the next 20 years, the Aboriginal working age population is expected to grow three to five times faster than its non-Aboriginal counterpart. By 2016, the majority of the Aboriginal youth will be entering the labour force, while the majority of the non-Aboriginal population will be entering retirement. This population provides a large pool of potential in response to the anticipated skills shortage in Canada.

November 2004

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