Closing the Education Gap: A Case for Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in Canada, a Look at the Aboriginal Headstart Program

Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). 260 Dalhousie Street Suite 204, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4, Canada. Tel: 613-241-0018; Fax: 613-241-0019; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.csse.ca/CJE/General.htm

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Early Childhood Education; Canada Natives; Disadvantaged Youth; Foreign Countries; Preschool Education; Preschool Evaluation; Culturally Relevant Education; Educational Strategies; Change Strategies; Achievement Gap; Indigenous Populations; Social History; Critical Theory; Educational History; Case Studies; Performance Factors; Barriers; Academic Achievement

0380-2361

This paper raises awareness concerning the education gap between Aboriginal youth and the non-Aboriginal youth population in Canada. It argues that the historical consequences of colonialism that resulted in diminished sense of self-worth, self-determination, and culture have placed Aboriginals at the low-end of the socio-economic strata. This continuing phenomenon has meant that Aboriginal youth perform far worse than non- Aboriginals in terms of their ability to obtain higher education and employment. Given this, using welfare-state theory and Indigenous-based theory I argue that early-childhood education which is culturally sensitive to the needs of Aboriginal children and controlled by Aboriginal communities will help to remedy and close the education gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth. The paper concludes with solutions to rectify the situation in Canada. Specifically, it discusses the current government initiative, Aboriginal Head Start (AHS), that has been making significant strides throughout the Aboriginal community. (Contains 1 table.)

As Provided

38

2011

EJ946093