A national panel has created a blueprint on how to build a First Nations education system from the ground up but aboriginal leaders say proof of commitment will lie in the upcoming federal budget.
The three-person panel, which will report to Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and Shawn Atleo, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said Canada must develop an education system that is culturally sensitive and complete with regional school boards, teacher and student standards.
The panel narrowed their report into five key recommendations, all with detailed descriptions on how to achieve change.
One calls for reserve schools — the responsibility of the federal government — to get an immediate on-par funding boost equal to the percentage increase in 2012 for provincial schools in the province in which the aboriginal school is located.
The panel set aggressive time frames — in three months they want to see an interim commission on national First Nations education up and running, said Scott Haldane, panel member and president of YMCA Canada.
“The urgency of action has to be driven by the fact that we can’t afford to lose not just another generation of young people but an entire year of young people,” he said. “We can’t afford to wait.”
While more money is not the only answer, the answer does “require funding.
“We are saying we need to build a system, then fund it properly,” he said. “But in the meantime we need to relieve the pressure on the schools.”
Native students are funded $2,000 to $3,000 less, on average, than non-native students — a discrepancy that has caused advocates such as former prime minister Paul Martin to argue this is “immoral discrimination.”
Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse said he is optimistic about the panel’s findings but he warned not everything can change overnight.
“There have just been too many years of neglect,” said Toulouse who represents 133 First Nations in Ontario.
If the government is serious about improving aboriginal education the proof will be in the upcoming federal budget, he added: “The action will still dictate.”
But in the short term, hiking funding to reserve schools so they are equal to the provinces would help immensely, Toulouse said.
The panel also wants Ottawa to create a child-centred First Nation education act and remove all references to residential schools from the century-old Indian Act.
Duncan said in a statement the federal government recognizes that education is crucial to improving the quality of life for First Nations people. He made no other promises other than to review the report.
But NDP MPP Charlie Angus told reporters in Ottawa the time for study is over as children’s futures are at stake.
“This is something that’s been known for a long time,” he said. “We need to see action now and we need to see it in this budget with a firm commitment to start closing the funding gap.”
Ontario was not a part of the panel, said Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne.
She argued the provincial governments must be at the table when discussing education reform if all of Canada’s children are to be put on the same, level playing field.
“Should there be on par education funding? Absolutely. The $2,000 to $3,000 gap is part of the problem,” she said.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Tanya Talaga
The three-person panel, which will report to Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and Shawn Atleo, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said Canada must develop an education system that is culturally sensitive and complete with regional school boards, teacher and student standards.
The panel narrowed their report into five key recommendations, all with detailed descriptions on how to achieve change.
One calls for reserve schools — the responsibility of the federal government — to get an immediate on-par funding boost equal to the percentage increase in 2012 for provincial schools in the province in which the aboriginal school is located.
The panel set aggressive time frames — in three months they want to see an interim commission on national First Nations education up and running, said Scott Haldane, panel member and president of YMCA Canada.
“The urgency of action has to be driven by the fact that we can’t afford to lose not just another generation of young people but an entire year of young people,” he said. “We can’t afford to wait.”
While more money is not the only answer, the answer does “require funding.
“We are saying we need to build a system, then fund it properly,” he said. “But in the meantime we need to relieve the pressure on the schools.”
Native students are funded $2,000 to $3,000 less, on average, than non-native students — a discrepancy that has caused advocates such as former prime minister Paul Martin to argue this is “immoral discrimination.”
Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse said he is optimistic about the panel’s findings but he warned not everything can change overnight.
“There have just been too many years of neglect,” said Toulouse who represents 133 First Nations in Ontario.
If the government is serious about improving aboriginal education the proof will be in the upcoming federal budget, he added: “The action will still dictate.”
But in the short term, hiking funding to reserve schools so they are equal to the provinces would help immensely, Toulouse said.
The panel also wants Ottawa to create a child-centred First Nation education act and remove all references to residential schools from the century-old Indian Act.
Duncan said in a statement the federal government recognizes that education is crucial to improving the quality of life for First Nations people. He made no other promises other than to review the report.
But NDP MPP Charlie Angus told reporters in Ottawa the time for study is over as children’s futures are at stake.
“This is something that’s been known for a long time,” he said. “We need to see action now and we need to see it in this budget with a firm commitment to start closing the funding gap.”
Ontario was not a part of the panel, said Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne.
She argued the provincial governments must be at the table when discussing education reform if all of Canada’s children are to be put on the same, level playing field.
“Should there be on par education funding? Absolutely. The $2,000 to $3,000 gap is part of the problem,” she said.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Tanya Talaga
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