CEGC 6: Access to affordable and inclusive STEM education: Fort Severn First Nation​ & Toronto

Fort Severn First Nation​

A community in the Midst of Forest and Water

Fort Severn First Nation is a Cree community located 5 miles from the coast of Hudson Bay, on Treaty 9. Fort Severn’s traditional name is Wasaho, which is a word to describe the bend in the river Severn where the community is located. The community is only accessible year round by air and during winter by ice roads. According to Census 2016, the population was 361 people (Statistics Canada). The Wasaho Cree Nation School was built in 2016 and is a full functioning school providing primary education preparing students for 21st century learning. The community has major financial resources needs to maintain the operation of its onsite primary and secondary education offering. The Wasaho Cree Nation School built in 2016 has ongoing issues with shortage of functioning computers, poor classroom equipment and the lack of support for technology use. The community continues to lobby for adequate funding and support for technology in the school. “Another challenge is that the Internet is very slow in the school, making it difficult and time consuming to download educational programs.“ Secondary education is available with the Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS) located in a small building providing distance learning for residents. “It is a program that allows students to stay in their home while taking high school courses accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education. The KiHS students are more focused to remain in the community. They are more connected to their parents, their families and their home life than students who leave Fort Severn to attend high school in Sioux Lookout or Thunder Bay. All the courses are delivered online and so the students need to have ICT skills to do their work. Through their KiHS education, the students develop a high level of ICT skills. A big challenge for KiHS in Fort Severn is limited bandwidth.  Another challenge is that the computers are not up-to-date. Again, limited funding restricts what the school can do.”

References

Toronto

City of Toronto: Diversity and Education

The City of Toronto was home to  approximately 2,731,570 people in 2016 (Statistics Canada, 2016 census) and is deserved by four school boards. One of these school boards is the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) which serves approximately 230,000 students (Toronto District School Board) and represents approximately 11.5%of the province of Ontario total student enrolment for 2021-2022 school year (Ministry of Education). The TDSB is one of the most diverse school board across Canada (Toronto District School Board).The racial diversity of the students in the TDSB is illustrated by the 2017 Student and Parent Census where Black students make up 11%, White students represent 29%, South Asian represent 22% and East Asian  represent 14% of the total student population. The distinct educational profile and outcomes of Black students in the TDSB was described and analyzed by James and Turner (2017). Their analysis indicates that the level of study of the 2006-2011 cohort grade 9 and grade 10 students was Academic for 53% of Black students compared to 81% for White students and 80% for other Racialized students. Academic “courses” are said to be the most academically challenging and are required for University Preparedness courses taken in Grades 11 and 12. This program of study is required if the student intends to apply to university. In contrast, the Applied level was 39 % for Black students compared to 16% for White students and 18% for other Racialized students. The Applied courses prepare students for College Preparedness courses in Grades 11 and 12 to enter college after high school. The 2006-2011 cohort showed other differences in their post secondary education (PSE) choices. The proportion of students with confirmation in Ontario University was 25% (Black students); 60% (other Racialized students); 47% (White students). In contrast the proportion of students with confirmation in ON college was 21% (Black students); 14% (other Racialized students); 14% (White students). The proportion of students that did not apply to PSE was 43% (Black students); 17% (other Racialized students); 26% (White students). The lower number of Black students selecting The Academic level courses in grade 9 and 10 will reduce their opportunity in applying for university and in selecting STEM programs.

References

• James, C. E., & Turner, T. (2017). Towards race equity in education: The schooling of Black  students in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: York University https://edu.yorku.ca/files/2017/04/Towards-Race-Equity-in-Education-April-2017.pdf