By Derek Cornet

Education minister stops at NLSD during northern tour

Jun 15, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Saskatchewan Minister of Education Gordon Wyant was in La Ronge Thursday to find out what the province can do to boost graduation rates.

“We are seeing grad rates increasing across the province, but they’re certainly not increasing as quickly as I’d like,” Wyant told larongeNOW. “It’s really a matter of talking to the school divisions and talking to the teachers about what they need in their classrooms to increase that success.”

Students in the Northern Lights School Division struggle during their high school years when compared to their southern counterparts. According to the division’s latest annual report, only 36 per cent of high school students graduated on time. Among the First Nations and Métis students, only 31 per cent graduated in three years compared to provincial average of 43 per cent.

Wyant said there are some challenges in respect to bringing the graduation rate up, but the ministry continues work with the school division and look for additional funds wherever possible. 

“We’re having ongoing conversations with the federal government with respect to increasing funding,” Wyant said. “There’s a funding gap, so we want increased funding from the federal government so we can help alleviate that gap.”

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Wyant’s visit to La Ronge was part of a single-day tour of the Northern Lights School Division. After a brief stop in La Loche in the morning, Wyant spent the rest of the day touring Churchill, Gordon Denny Community School and Pre-Cam Community School. The tour ended with a visit to the division’s head office where Wyant met with the board of education.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno