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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A new program at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence is being tailored for adult students who have not attained their high school diploma.

Last month the school opened an alternative high school program led by teachers Laura Eby and Elaine Harris. The program is targeted at people aged 18 to 23 who didn't achieve their high school diploma for a variety of reasons including poor attendance, low literacy levels or academic difficulties, said Eby.

The program is being designed to meet individual needs.

Each perspective student is asked what they want to get out of the program and what their career goals are, Eby said.

For some, the goal is to get a driver's licence and the program can help them strengthen their literacy skills for the written test, she said. Others want to apply for a college program and in that case Eby said she and Harris make sure the person has the appropriate prerequisites. Through the program, students can earn credits they are missing and get help to write their application.

"The program is being developed as we acquire students and as we get a feel for what is needed in the community," she said. Between 12 and 20 people have signed up for the program. Some are looking to achieve their Grade 12 equivalency. The students are motivated because they've faced challenges and now they want to achieve their goal, said Eby.

The program is also flexible in how students go about reaching their goal.

The program is open every afternoon at the school. Participants are required to complete their work but they don't have to do it in the classroom. Some work at home and bring it in for a weekly check-in. This allows the students to work around their jobs and their families, Eby said.

Night courses

Eby and Harris are also in the process of developing a set of night courses. All of the courses will based on local demand, said Eby. For example, a geography course won't be offered unless someone needs that credit.

The program's strengths come from its flexible, said Eby and because it is being offered in a school environment there is some structure and a support network.

"It's very much a work in progress," she said. "It will develop with each group of students."

The program is a means to reengage students in a way that is more respectful of what is happening in their lives, said Lois Philipp, the school's principal. If it's a viable option, each participant in the program will be encouraged to get their Grade 12 equivalency, said Philipp.

The overall goal, however, is to achieve the usual outcomes of education, including increased literacy and numeracy skills as well as critical thinking, she said.

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