Closing the Education Gap - A Case for Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in Canada - A Look at the Aboriginal Headstart Program

Oct 15, 2026

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The paper examines the education gap affecting Aboriginal youth compared with non-Aboriginal youth in Canada. It connects continuing disparities to colonialism’s historical consequences, including reduced self-worth, self-determination, and cultural continuity, which limit access to higher education and employment. Using welfare-state theory and Indigenous-based theory, the study argues that culturally sensitive early childhood education, controlled by Aboriginal communities, can help close this gap. It concludes with Canadian solutions emphasizing the Aboriginal Head Start program.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Résumé

Author’s Note

Introduction

Theoretical Framework and Key Arguments

Data and Context

Closing the Education Gap: A Case for Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in Canada, A Look at the Aboriginal Headstart Program Mai Nguyen York University Abstract This paper raises awareness concerning the education gap between Aboriginal youth and the non-Aboriginal youth population in Canada. It argues that the historical consequences of colonialism that resulted in diminished sense of self-worth, self-determination, and culture have placed Aboriginals at the low-end of the socio-economic strata. This continuing phenomenon has meant that Aboriginal youth perform far worse than nonAboriginals in terms of their ability to obtain higher education and employment. Given this, using welfare-state theory and Indigenous-based theory I argue that early-childhood education which is culturally sensitive to the needs of Aboriginal children and controlled by Aboriginal communities will help to remedy and close the education gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth. The paper concludes with solutions to rectify the situation in Canada. Specifically, it discusses the current government initiative, Aboriginal Head Start (AHS), that has been making significant strides throughout the Aboriginal community. Key words: Self-determination, culturally appropriate, Aboriginal control Author’s Note Mai Nguyen is a PhD candidate at York University. She conducts research in the area of public administration and public policy focusing more specifically on Aboriginals in the administrative process. Her current thesis looks at the role of public consultations between the public sector and Aboriginals in effecting Indigenous-based change. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION 34, 3 (2011): 229-248 ©2011 Canadian Society for the Study of Education/ Société canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation Résumé Cet article vise à sensibiliser la population sur le faible niveau d'instruction chez les jeunes autochtones au Canada et suggère comment la situation pourrait être améliorée. Il soutient que les conséquences historiques du colonialisme, qui a abouti à la diminution du sentiment d'estime de soi, d'auto-détermination, et du sens de la culture, ont placé les autochtones au bas de l'échelle socio-économique. Une des conséquences de ce phénomène continue est que les jeunes autochtones réussissent moins bien que les nonautochtones en termes de leurs capacités à obtenir une éducation supérieure et un emploi. Compte tenu de cela, en utilisant la théorie de l'État-providence et la théorie autochtone, je soutiens qu'une éducation préscolaire culturellement sensible et adaptée aux besoins des enfants autochtones, et contrôlée par les communautés autochtones, permettrait deréduire et de remédier à l'écart entre les jeunes autochtones et les non-autochtones. L'article conclut sur des solutions pour rectifier la situation au Canada. Plus précisément, il traite de l'initiative actuelle du gouvernement, le programme d'aide préscolaire aux autochtones, qui a été créé pour essayer de remédier à la situation désastreuse de l'éducation des autochtones au Canada. Note de l'auteur Mai Nguyen est candidate au doctorat à l'Université York. Elle mène des recherches dans le domaine de l'administration publique et des politiques publiques se concentrant plus particulièrement sur les populations autochtones dans le processus administratif. Sa thèseen cours examine le rôle des consultations publiques menées entre le secteur public et les populations autochtones pour introduire des changements en faveur des autochtones . Closing the Education Gap: A Case for Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in Canada, A Look at the Aboriginal Headstart Program Introduction Welfare state theory postulates that in order for countries to be economically competitive and successful, governments must increase human capital by providing their citizens with the tools necessary to become productive workers and citizens. One of the crucial tools is education, a right that s

FAQs

What education gap does the paper focus on in Canada?

It focuses on the gap between Aboriginal youth and non-Aboriginal youth in educational outcomes and opportunities such as higher education and employment.

How does the paper explain the root causes of the gap?

It attributes continuing disadvantages to the historical consequences of colonialism, including diminished self-worth and self-determination and the erosion of cultural foundations.

What solution does the paper propose to close the education gap?

It argues for early childhood education that is culturally sensitive to Aboriginal children, controlled by Aboriginal communities, and aligned with Indigenous needs and values. It also highlights the Aboriginal Head Start initiative as an example.

Oct 15, 2026

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