Aboriginal student success was centre stage at Sid Williams Theatre today with the signing of the Comox Valley school district's third Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. These five-year agreements are a commitment by school districts, local Aboriginal communities, and the Ministry of Education to work together to support Aboriginal learners.

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae represented government at this colourful event which featured storytelling, dancing, fiddlers and a poetry reading. Today's signing comes after a year of dedicated consultation and dialogue under the direction of the Aboriginal Nations Education Council. This process brought together the voices of parents, elders, communities and school district staff.

Much progress has been made since the first Agreement was signed. Six-year completion rates for Aboriginal students in the Comox Valley have risen from 42 per cent to 67 per cent over the last five years. As well, each spring Aboriginal Curriculum Support Teachers visit each Grade 4 classroom in the district to prepare students for their field trip to the Komoks First Nation Big House which sees 500 students experience First Nation culture and history directly.

There are 1,282 Aboriginal students in the district for 2012-13 making up 13 per cent of the overall student population of 9,877.

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

"Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreements are supporting Aboriginal student success in school districts across the province and my congratulations to SD 71 on being one of the first to sign a third agreement."

Don McRae, Comox Valley MLA and Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation -

"I know that this third Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement for the Comox Valley will continue the good work being done in support of Aboriginal students and I want to thank all who have worked so hard to create this blueprint for future success."

Peter Coleman, Comox Valley board chair -

"Today's signing is a measure of the positive relations established between the District and the Aboriginal community we serve. It is made possible by a substantial degree of student success in the past and great hopes for even more in the future, as we seek greater integration of Aboriginal culture and history into all our classrooms. That past success, and the new agreement, represent an extraordinary combination of good will and hard work by all parties. The Board is extremely grateful for the efforts of the community, and of our dedicated staff, which have brought us to this happy moment in the life of the District and the community."

Quick Facts:

• The Comox Valley school district is located on the traditional territory of the K'ómoks First Nation.
• More Aboriginal students in B.C. are completing high school than ever before as the six-year completion rate has climbed by almost 30 per cent (or 13.5 percentage points) from 45.9 per cent in 2002-03 to 59.4 per cent in 2012-13.
• Provincial funding for Aboriginal education in 2012-13 was $63 million (through a supplement of $1,160 per student).

Learn More:

Comox Valley School District: www.sd71.bc.ca

Aboriginal education: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed

BC's Education Plan: www.bcedplan.ca

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963