Program helps adult Aboriginal people combat illiteracy

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Each spring, millions of students bid farewell to their teachers and schoolmates for exciting futures armed with the most valuable asset in today's job market- education. In fact, it is becoming increasingly hard to find a job without a high school diploma.

While these graduates may take basic language and math skills for granted, many others suffer silently because they are not able to complete their secondary education. For some people, reading a newspaper or even a bus schedule can be a challenge.

For some Aboriginal people, the negative experiences suffered by generations before at residential schools has left them distrustful of educational institutions. The drop out rate for British Columbia's Aboriginal students is 60 per cent. Many are finding that their lack of literacy skills stands rudely between them and their dreams.

But with the help of a unique program offered by the Native Education Centre (NEC) in Vancouver, Aboriginal men and women 19 or older are finding a way to make up for lost time.

Dan Guinan, academic dean at the centre, said that family responsibilities often keep Aboriginal students from completing their basic education.

"A lot of people are parents and they have to look after their children," explains Guinan. Many of them also have to take care of extended families that are often located throughout rural B.C.

"The other thing is the English language," said Guinan. "Over the last 100 years, Aboriginals have switched from their traditional languages to English, but there's been no ESL [English as a Second Language training] or real education specific to that transition."

He said many Aboriginal people speak a dialect that is mix of standard English and their traditional language. A major focus of the program is enabling students to read and speak in standard English while maintaining their own village dialects so they can continue to communicate with family members.

About 100 students enroll in the Aboriginal Adult Basic Education (AABE) program every term and take courses required for the province's adult graduation diploma, including fundamentals like English and math, as well as electives, including First Nations studies and self-government. All academic credits are transferable to other public colleges and are recognized by universities for admission to post-secondary programs.

There is no tuition and the program is affiliated with Vancouver Community College and sponsored by the Ministry of Advanced Education. Students must cover the cost of books and lab fees, which totals about $150 per term. But as Guinan points out, bands often provide some financial assistance, as does Human Resource Development Canada's Urban Aboriginal Employment Centre.

Many of the students that receive their Grade 12 diploma go on to pursue higher education and promising careers. Jason Burnstick, who recently received a diploma in criminology from B.C.'s Douglas College, said the program helped him get the ball rolling.

"I wish I'd stumbled upon this place sooner," said Burnstick, who now works for the Family Violence Resource Centre, one of the community services offered at the centre. "The program helped me network. It improved my education [and] moved me onto the next step. It's been pivotal."

But what most impressed Burnstick about the program is its atmosphere and sensitivity toward Aboriginal students.

"It recognizes my culture. We are respected," he said. "It's warm and welcoming. It's home."