Policy in Focus, Issue 5: Poor Educational Outcomes for Aboriginal Students Threaten Canada’s Prosperity

September 2008

  • Sixty percent of students living on reserves are not graduating from high school. And things are getting relatively worse compared to non-Aboriginal students, not better.
  • Per capita funding of education by the federal government for children on reserves has not kept pace with provincial investment in the regular school system.
  • The education system for First Nations is not guided by any educational policy or legislative framework.
  • Most schools on reserves are based on a village school model. They are isolated and have little professional support.
  • Improving educational results on reserves would help alleviate poverty and would reduce government costs.

Read more…


Maytree Policy in Focus Webinar Banner with Michael Mendelson,
The Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Improving Education on Reserves: A First Nations Education Authority Act, by Michael Mendelson of The Caledon Institute of Social Policy, presents practical ideas to improve the educational attainment of First Nations living on reserve. Read a summary of the ideas.

View the Maytree Policy in Focus Webinar Held on October 23, 2008

View the Maytree Policy in Focus Webinar Question and Answer