First Nation’s Leadership Takes Issue With Teachers’ Federation Attacks on Foundation Skills Assessments

A number of First Nations leaders in BC have taken issue at what they call a “targeted attack” on Foundation Skills Assessments in BC Public Schools.

Members of the First Nations Leadership Council penned the letter to Minister of Education Jennifer Whiteside last month.

It singles out the BC Teachers’ Federation and their calls to have parents withdraw their children from the assessment.

In the letter, the Council calls the Assessments key to determining improvements to Indigenous success and equity in the education system.

They are used by various different committees and organizations to gauge success between grades, and whether or not the needs of Indigenous students are being met.

Co-signed by members of the First Nations Summit, UBCIC, and BCAFN, the letter also points out how eliminating the tests would go against several agreements signed by First Nations leadership.

The BCTF calls the publishing of the results by the Fraser Institute to be unethical, and the main cause for their issue.

They say they are not opposed to working out a new provincial standardized assessment.