By Sarah Rae

Minister of Education visits N.B. to see First Nations and Métis student success

Sep 7, 2016 | 2:00 PM

The Minister of Education visited a local high school Wednesday to tour a program targeting First Nations and Métis graduation rates.

Don Morgan visited North Battleford Comprehensive High School’s Gateway to Success program Wednesday, Sept. 7 and heard students speak about how the resource is helping them graduate and fit in at school.

“The feedback that we’ve received from students, from parents, from schools is that it’s been well received and it’s going well but this is the first time I’ve actually been able to sit down and talk to students and hear from them first hand. It’s great,” he said.

Morgan was joined by several representatives of Living Sky School Division, Treaty Six Education Council and NBCHS. The program supports students who are at risk of not graduating on time through cultural activities, career counselling and help with academics.

The graduation coach who runs the program, Jess Armstrong, and several students who participate in the program gave short presentations.

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“On days like today when you hear how much your hard work has meant to the students it’s so heartwarming and touching, because it’s a hard job working with kids every day,” Armstrong said.

She said a lot of her day-to-day work involves calling parents, asking students where their assignments are and tutoring them. She also gets to organize cultural activities like beading and drumming and “lunch and learn” days where she invites a successful First Nations or Métis person in the community to talk to students about how they found success.

Armstrong said people may not believe cultural activities translates to students getting credits and graduating, but she thinks a sense of belonging does encourage academic success.

“Now they have a voice,” she said. “If you belong somewhere then there’s a much better chance you’re going to be successful when you have that sense of belonging.”

She said graduation rates for First Nations and Métis students have roughly tripled since 2012 at NBCHS. The program is only in its third school year, but Armstrong said its been achieving the goal so far.

Provincially, the graduation rate of First Nations and Métis students has increased from 31 per cent to more than 40 per cent, according to Morgan. He said there’s still a long way to go, but the Gateway to Success program is clearly one initiative producing positive results.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.