By Canadian Press

Quebec auditor general says school system failing Indigenous students

Nov 21, 2024 | 11:38 AM

MONTREAL — Quebec’s auditor general says the province has taken little action in the past two decades to help Indigenous students in Quebec, whose graduation rates lag behind those of Indigenous students in other provinces.

In her report published Wednesday, Guylaine Leclerc says the Quebec government knew about a major gap in the success rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students since at least 2005, but failed to seriously address the issue.

She says that as of 2021, Quebec had the highest rate among the provinces of Indigenous people between the ages of 25 and 34 without a diploma or certificate.

The report also finds that Indigenous students in Quebec are given insufficient support, such as French-language training, when they transfer from schools in their communities to the province’s education system.

Leclerc’s recommendations include that Quebec education officials define and implement indicators to improve Indigenous students’ success rates; train school staff on Indigenous realities; and develop culturally relevant learning environments.

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Neither the Quebec Education Department nor the Quebec minister responsible for First Nations and Inuit relations was immediately available for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian Press