On Dec. 16, 2016 MFNERC signed an historic Education Governance Agreement with The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, for the creation of a Manitoba First Nations School System (MFNSS). The MFNSS is a First Nations-led initiative to create a new, culturally relevant, high-quality education system. Its purpose is to build a strong system that will support First Nations schools, improve the quality and relevance of education, improve academic standards, and improve student outcomes including retention, completion and graduation rates.
The MFNSS will administer and manage elementary and secondary education programs and services for those First Nations participating. It is the first of its kind in Canada – a First Nations-designed school system, with funding comparable to provincial school divisions.
“First Nations control over First Nations education is critical to support indigenous pedagogy and learning environments that foster the secure personal cultural identity of its students. Today we celebrate the vision and determination of First Nations in Manitoba by signing this historic education agreement.”
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Through this Agreement, all parties committed to providing First Nations students with the tools they need to succeed in whichever path they choose to pursue.
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Read a Winnipeg Free Press article
