Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education
The FSIN Education and Training Secretariat advocates for the 74 First Nations on Education issues in order to honour the spirit and intent of Treaty. The Education and Training Secretariat also advocates the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty Right to Education promise that was made more than a century ago.
Shared Standards and Capacity Building Council (SSCBC)
The SSCBC was established through the Memorandum of Understanding between FSIN and Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, in 2003. The SSCBC established sub-committees: Special Education, Learning Program/Curriculum, Assessment for Learning, Early Learning and Child Care, Teacher Development, E- Learning and Technology, Governance, Language and Culture. The SSCBC members include representatives from the FSIN, the First Nations Directors of Education and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. The FSIN coordinates SSCBC meetings in cooperation with, and support from, the First Nations and Métis Education Branch of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.
Vision
Saskatchewan learners are successful and supported through effective and collaborative relationships.
Principles
The relationship between FSIN and Ministry of Education will be interpreted and applied in accordance with the following Principles:
• All parties will conduct themselves with mutual respect;
• This arrangement will be responsive to the needs of children and youth;
• This arrangement will make a commitment to a shared decision-making process and accountability;
• This arrangement will be inclusiveness and accommodating to seamless transitions between education systems;
• This arrangement will make a commitment to practical, innovative, and results oriented activities;
• This arrangement will continue to build and enhance collaborative partnerships;
• This arrangement will recognize and respect Inherent and Treaty Rights;
• This arrangement will make a commitment to building a foundation for lifelong learning.
Strategic Goals
• Improve learning and achievement outcomes for Saskatchewan learners;
• Enhance capacity and knowledge so that Saskatchewan learners benefit from an understanding of the Treaties, as well as First Nations’ languages, cultures, and contributions in both historical and contemporary contexts;
• Create opportunities for shared decision-making and partnerships;
• Promote excellence in learning programs;
• Foster compatible and transferable practices through reciprocal arrangements;
• Jointly identify priority areas and collaboratively develop and assess appropriate outcomes;
• Ensure partnerships through the Shared Standards and Capacity Building Council are not solely limited to these Strategic Goals.
This MOU has since expired and negotiations have occurred between the Ministry of Education and the FSIN to create an updated version. The work of the SSCBC has been suspended until such time as the new MOU is signed.
Band Operated Funding Formula (BOFF)
The National Band Operated Funding Formula has remained unchanged since the 1980’s. The FSIN Education Secretariat is in the preliminary stages of developing a Band Operated Funding Formula that is specific to Saskatchewan First Nations. The principles of BOFF will adhere to and align itself to the new education funding formula that the Government of Saskatchewan is implementing with their next budget announcement. To date, the Government of Saskatchewan has not released any numbers for the new formula. The FSIN Education Secretariat is waiting for the release so that the same formula may be applied within a First Nation School context, wherever possible.
Once the BOFF is complete, the FSIN Education Secretariat will begin the next steps. The next steps will be to lobby INAC with the assistance of the Ministry of Education in achieving comparable funding for First Nation Schools. The BOFF formula will be a foundational change document to be used with the newly created Education Task Force which was approved with Chiefs in Assembly in October 2010.
IT - Connectivity Strategy – Digital Divide Diminished
The FSIN Education Secretariat is embarking on a digital strategy that will bring connectivity to First Nation Schools. The Education Secretariat along with Sasktel and the Ministry of Education has been in discussions regarding the development of a business plan that will see fibre optics to all of our First Nation Schools. As a result of this initiative, there are two newly formed working committees; the Educational Technology (ETWC) Working Committee and the Information Technology Working Committee (ITWC).
The ETWC met and developed a framework that will guide the work and financial resources required to bring digital skills and knowledge to our First Nation schools. The ITWC is working on developing an IT plan that will assist the First Nation communities with the work required.
This initiative is work in progress and updates will be provided through the Directors of Education table.