3.6.6 Distance Education Programs

The Assembly of First Nations has recommended that in order to improve accessibility there is a need to acknowledge and support distance education for Aboriginal students in rural and remote communities.13 Colleges and institutes’ responses to the on-line survey and interviews confirmed that institutions view distance education as a means to reaching Aboriginal learners in rural and remote areas. Many would like to deliver more distance education but cannot due to funding constraints.

In all, one third of participating institutions confirmed that they offer distance education programs which benefit Aboriginal learners. In the case of mainstream institutions, these are mostly regular program offerings which are also available to Aboriginal learners. The program and course offerings vary and include:

  1. Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Post Secondary Education Review, National Report, August 25, 2000, pg. 80.