Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011 February 19, 2001 School
district to launch native education project WESTERN CATHOLIC
REPORTER EDMONTON — Aboriginal students have a hard time
adapting to city schools, a situation that often translates into
low academic achievement, a high dropout rate and low self-
esteem. Statistics show aboriginal students are struggling in
the school system. Their high school graduation rate is about 52
per cent in Alberta compared to 72 per cent for non-aboriginal
students. What makes it even harder for aboriginal students is
that the curriculum doesn't reflect their cultural heritage.
That's all about to change as Edmonton Catholic Schools plans to
address the problem with the help of a $1.6 million grant from
Alberta Learning. The purpose of the ambitious project is to
help aboriginal students achieve higher success, said Bob
Steele, division principal in aboriginal education. "What we are
trying to do is work on ways that all our schools can be more
effective in working with aborigin