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Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada

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Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada C HANGING C OURSE: Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada MILLENNIUM RESEARCH NOTE #2 WWW.MILLENNIUMSCHOLARSHIPS.CA Millennium Les bourses Scholarships du millénaire CANADA MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION FONDATION CANADIENNE DES BOURSES D’ÉTUDES DU MILLÉNAIRE Changing Course: Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is a private, independent organization created by an act of Parliament in 1998. The Foundation works to improve access to post-secondary education for Canadians from all back- grounds; it encourages a high level of achievement and engagement in Canadian society; and it brings people and organizations together to understand barriers and improve access to post-secondary education in Canada. Each year, the Foundation distributes $340 million in bursaries and scholarships to students across Canada. The Research Program The Millennium Research Program furthers the work of the Foundation by undertaking research and pilot projects aimed at understanding and reducing barriers to post-secondary education. It ensures that policymaking and public discussion about opportunities in higher education in Canada can be informed by the best available evidence. Research Note Series Part of the mission of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is to Cover photo: improve access to post-secondary education so that Canadians can acquire the Jabob Beaton, knowledge and skills needed to participate in a changing economy and society. attended University of Victoria and founded Higher education provides the prospects for personal fulfillment and economic CopperMoon Media. advancement to which Canadians from all backgrounds are entitled. Totem by Roy Henry Vickers. Photo by The Foundation carries out extensive research, collecting and analyzing data Davin Greenwell. from surveys and pilot projects, so that we can better understand the barriers that prevent some students from making it to the post-secondary level, and so that we can identify means to alleviate those barriers. Within the broad scope of our research, we uncover certain trends, questions and issues that call for wider public dialogue. This research note, the second in an ongoing series examining issues of access and funding for post-secondary education, seeks to inform this dialogue and the development of new programs and policies. MILLENNIUM RESEARCH NOTE NO. 2 WWW. MILLENNIUMSCHOLARSHIPS. CA 1 CHANGING COURSE: Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada Introduction: Improving the prospects and the Foundation has initiated a series of for Aboriginal youth more in-depth projects to test the effective- ness of different strategies for encouraging All Canadians concerned with either the access to and success in post-secondary edu- Educational social cohesion or the economic prosperity of cation among Aboriginal students. This “ their country have an interest in the research note highlights some of the more aspirations prospects for young Aboriginal peoples1. important research findings and the rationale of Aboriginal The Aboriginal youth population is growing behind these projects. people are at a much faster rate than the youth compo- not very 2 nent of the general population. Already, in different Manitoba and Saskatchewan, one quarter of Aboriginal Canadians optimistic about the population under 14 years of age is post-secondary education from those Aboriginal. Looking ahead ten years, of other Statistics Canada reports that the number of Most young Aboriginal people in Canada Canadians.” Aboriginal people in their twenties entering want to go on to post-secondary education after completing high school. Like other the Canadian labour market will grow by Canadians, they recognize the value of a col- 40%, a rate four times greater than that of the lege or university education. general population. As the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada has In fact, the educational aspirations of argued, the continued economic and social Aboriginal people are not very different from development of not only Aboriginal commu- those of other Canadians. A recent survey of nities but of entire regions and provinces of First Nations people living on-reserve 4 Canada will depend in large part on shows that 70% of those between the ages of increased Aboriginal access to and success in 16 and 24 hope to complete some form of higher education.3 post-secondary education, and almost 80% of parents hope their children will do so. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation seeks to improve access to post- Even more encouraging is that ambition is secondary education so that Canadians from matched with optimism. For Aboriginal peo- all backgrounds can acquire the knowledge ple between the ages of 16 and 24, 72% say it and skills needed to participate in a changing is likely or very likely that they will obtain the economy and society. As such, it has a keen level of education they desire. Parents are just interest in the educational attainment of as likely (70%) to believe that their children Aboriginal peoples. Its research program has will get the post-secondary education they addressed this issue through several studies, want. MILLENNIUM RESEARCH NOTE NO. 2 WWW. MILLENNIUMSCHOLARSHIPS. CA 2 Changing Course: Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada Uphill climb: wealth of Canada and contribute fully to aspirations versus reality their families, communities and society, then we need to better understand these barriers Despite the optimism of Aboriginal people, and reduce them where possible. only 39% of those between the ages of 25 and 64 have graduated from some form of post- secondary education.This reality is far below Understanding the barriers the aspirations that Aboriginal youth and to post-secondary education their families have for higher education, and for Aboriginal people also well below the overall Canadian post- secondary attainment level of 54%. In the A recent survey of First Nations people on- case of status Indians, only 20% of those reserve helps create a clearer picture of the under the age of 24 have pursued some form barriers to post-secondary education faced 9 of post-secondary education, compared with by Aboriginal people. 42% of their non-Aboriginal counterparts.5 Of all the factors holding back First Nations students, our research shows that the lack of “For This difference between aspirations and Aboriginal achievement is illustrated in Chart 1.For financial resources is perceived as the most Aboriginal communities, achieving educa- significant, although a lack of academic communities, tional goals is a steeper climb. Many young preparation is also important. achieving people want to go on to some form of post- Those surveyed were asked to agree or dis- educational secondary education, but far fewer are mak- agree with four statements: 53% agreed that goals is a ing it in the current context.6 the level of government funding is inade- steeper An earlier report commissioned by the quate; 46% agreed that First Nations youth climb.” Foundation confirmed that the steeper climb are not academically prepared through their for Aboriginal students is the product of a high school education; and 28% agreed that number of barriers, making it more difficult for Aboriginal people to attain their educa- Chart 1 Post-secondary attainment and aspirations 7 tional aspirations.8 These barriers include: 100 Aboriginal All ● inadequate financial resources ● poor academic preparation 90 ● lack of self-confidence and motivation 80 ● absence of role models who have post- 70 secondary education experience ● lack of understanding of Aboriginal 60 culture on campus 50 ● experience of racism on campus. 40 All of these factors, combined with a history 30 of forced assimilation through non- 20 Aboriginal educational institutions, create a challenging path for Aboriginal youth want- 10 ing to pursue post-secondary education. 0 If we want Aboriginal people to share in the Current PSE PSE Aspirations attainment (25 - 64) (youth) MILLENNIUM RESEARCH NOTE NO. 2 WWW. MILLENNIUMSCHOLARSHIPS. CA 3 Changing Course: Improving Aboriginal Access to Post-Secondary Education in Canada Chart 2 Barriers to post-secondary education for Aboriginal people 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 “Of all the Inadequate Poor academic Not welcome PSE factors funding preparation on campus not necessary holding back First Nations First Nations people do not feel welcome on The survey data show that while the experi- students, university and college campuses. Only 20% ence of school and the perception of the the lack of agreed that jobs in First Nations communities importance of post-secondary education are financial do not require post-secondary education. factors for some, concerns about financial resources is resources and academic preparation are most Among First Nations youth not planning to prominent when First Nations people living perceived as go on to college or university, financial barri- on-reserve think about what might hold the most ers are most frequently cited as holding them them back from going on to post-secondary significant. back: 59% say they have to work to support ” education. their family while 40% say they do not have enough money.10 Understanding the When asked about why they are not planning Aboriginal student population on attending post-secondary education, only 27% say it is because they do not want to leave
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