Education
The Government of Canada's overarching goal is to provide First Nation students with quality education that provides them with the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to enter the labour market and be full participants in a strong Canadian economy.
In 2011-2012, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) invested approximately $1.55 billion in First Nation K-12 education and more than $322 million in post-secondary education to support First Nation and Inuit students across Canada. This funding was in addition to the approximately $200 million to support infrastructure costs for education facilities. This funding supported approximately 116,400 students in kindergarten to grade 12 and about 22,000 post secondary students.
Update on Progress to Date on First Nation education
The Government has now concluded the first phase of consultation on a proposed framework for legislation on First Nations elementary and secondary education. As the consultation process moves forward, the Government has released a Blueprint for Legislation which sets out the Government of Canada’s proposed approach to a First Nation Education Act and has been informed by the work of the National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education, and recent consultations undertaken between December 2012 and May 2013. The Blueprint has been shared with First Nation Chiefs and Councils, First Nation organizations, provincial governments and others with an expertise or interest in First Nation education for feedback. Visit the consultation page to read the Blueprint and to learn more about how to submit your ideas for consideration. We also encourage you to review the progress to date or view the Discussion Guide that was used during the first phase of consultations.
For further information on completed school infrastructure projects (over $1.5 million from 2010-2014) funded by Canada's Economic Action Plan and the Gas Tax Fund, please view this detailed chart. Also, please take the opportunity to view school projects across the regions in this photo gallery.
Following the Crown-First Nations Gathering and as part of Economic Action Plan 2012, and Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government committed to develop new legislation for First Nation elementary and secondary education that would establish the structures and standards to support strong and accountable education systems on reserve. Economic Action Plan 2012 also invested $100 million over three years to help ensure readiness for the new First Nations education system to be outlined in legislation by September 2014. The budget also committed $175 million to new school projects.
In December 2012, the Government launched consultations on a proposed legislative approach to First Nation education. These initial consultations with First Nations and other stakeholders included in-person regional sessions held across the country, video and teleconference sessions, in addition to online consultation activities. After careful examination of input received to date, a proposed outline for a First Nation Education Act has been developed and shared with First Nations, provinces and others, for feedback. In addition, a draft bill will be shared with every First Nation community across the country provincial governments, and others, for further input prior to legislation being introduced in Parliament.
Did you know?
- AANDC provides direct financial support for elementary and secondary education for First Nations living on reserve, and post-secondary education support for First Nation and Inuit students.
- AANDC delivers a number of important education programs, including: the First Nation Student Success Program and the Education Partnerships Program.
- The Government of Canada has signed tripartite education agreements in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Quebec (First Nation Education Council) and Saskatchewan (Saskatoon Tribal Council).
- Elementary and secondary school support for First Nation students living off reserve, as well as Métis, Inuit and non-status Indians, is provided through provincial and territorial school systems.
- All Aboriginal students, regardless of whether they are First Nation, Métis or Inuit, can also seek funding for post-secondary education through CanLearn and the Canada Student Loans and Grants program .
- The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 600 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation.
- The Government of Canada is developing an Education Information System (EIS) – a single data system to track performance and measure success - to support continuous improvement.
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