Provide input on grad requirement

Students, parents and the public are reminded that if they want to provide input on the Ministry of Education’s new Indigenous-focused graduation requirement, the deadline is approaching. Engagement is being sought until April 22 and can be accessed via the govTogetherBC website.

Introducing a new, Indigenous-focused graduation requirement is intended to support lasting and meaningful reconciliation. The new requirement will build on work to date, to integrate Indigenous perspectives and content across the redesigned provincial curriculum, and into professional development and standards for B.C. educators.

Currently, one-third of B.C. students completing the annual Student Learning Survey report having received education about Indigenous peoples, and fewer than five per cent of graduates complete any of the Indigenous-focused provincial courses or First Nations language courses at the secondary level. Introducing a full, Indigenous-focused course requirement will provide all students with the time and opportunity to develop deeper understanding and a broader knowledge base of Indigenous worldviews, histories and cultures, and support the K-12 sector’s mandate to develop the Educated Citizen.

The proposed change to the graduation program would involve adding a requirement for secondary students to complete four credits of Indigenous-focused coursework in order to graduate. Students could earn these credits by successfully completing:

• One of the existing, Indigenous-focused provincial courses;
• A First Nations language course at the Grade 10 to Grade 12 level; or
• A locally-developed, Indigenous-focused course (BAA).

No changes would be made to the total number of credits required to graduate (80), nor would there be any changes to the Adult Graduation Program. In some instances, an Indigenous-focused course may also satisfy specific Language Arts, Social Studies, or elective course requirements of the graduation program in addition to the new requirement.

A comparison of the current graduation requirements and the proposed requirements, including four credits of Indigenous-focused learning, can be found in the table below:

Please visit govTogetherBC website to share your thoughts.