The BC Ministry of Education is implementing an Indigenous-focused graduation requirement for all secondary students beginning in the 2023/2024 school year.

This transformative change to the Graduation Program represents an important next step toward lasting and meaning reconciliation, providing all BC students with the necessary time and opportunity to develop deeper understandings of the experiences, cultures, and histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The new requirement also reflects ongoing work by the Ministry of Education, FNESC, and other education partners to build capacity within the education system to address Indigenous-specific racism.

FNESC appreciates the efforts of the First Nations Leadership Council, First Nations, and the FNESC Board of Directors in achieving this significant milestone.  We also appreciate the expressions of support from our partner organizations, including the BC School Trustees Association, BC Teachers’ Federation, and the BC Association of Institutes and Universities.

Key Documents

Details on the new graduation requirement are available in the following resources developed by the Ministry, in collaboration with FNESC.

FNESC will share further information on the implementation of the new requirement and provide regular updates as information becomes available.