By Jeff Labine

Financial constraints put school division goals at risk

Feb 7, 2017 | 11:14 AM

Financial restraints are putting Sask. Rivers School Division goals to improve graduation rates among First Nations and Metis students at risk.

Director of education Robert Bratvold presented a report at Monday night’s board of education meeting which provided a glimpse into the current status of the school division and the province’s education system as a whole. This report included a targeted goal to bring the graduation rate for First Nations and Metis students across the province to 65 per cent by 2020.

Meeting that goal might be challenging as the graduation rate for this group of students across the province is roughly 42 per cent. The division is also anticipating a reduction in their budget, which could be as much as five per cent.

Bratvold said the reductions could put those goals and many others at risk.

“If we can’t maintain the resource allocation to keep working towards those goals, it is going to be harder to reach them,” he said. “…the goal around Metis and First Nations engagement and graduation rate is at risk without sufficient funding. At risk doesn’t mean impossible, it just means much more challenging and maybe less likely.”

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There’s a number of reasons why First Nations and Metis have a lower graduation rate, Bratvold said, including issues like poverty. According to recent surveys, this student group might also feel less engaged. Roughly 43 per cent of First Nation and Metis students felt included at school, compared to 61 per cent of non-First Nations students.

Bratvold added the division has a number of programs in schools to help improve inclusion and engagement including multicultural clubs, extracurricular activities and initiatives like Following their Voices.

Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter