African Nova Scotian Support Worker

For African Nova Scotians, racism is the most pervasive factor impacting their quality of education, the educational environment, and ability to achieve success in the school system.

In 1993 the Black Learners Advisory Committee developed an analysis of the education system and identified several factors behind the difficulties that Black learners face within the provincial education system. The following were identified within the BLAC Report:

• a lack of Black role models in the school environment • the alienation of Black students in the total school environment • a lack of visibility of Blacks consistently in the curriculum • minimization of Black contributions to society • a lack of clear understanding of Black culture, behavior, and activities by teachers • a low expectation for Black students • a lack of relationship between the school staff and the Black community • teacher insensitivity toward Black students • ineffective discipline procedures • a reluctance of administration to deal with social confrontations • the high drop out rate of Black students • the lower graduation rate of Black students • the inability to motivate Black students • the Black students guided to select non-university programs • a disproportionate number of Black students in resource programs

Many positive changes have occurred in the education system in recent years. However, changes that are intended to improve the quality of education for all students frequently require additional resources to meet the needs of students who are marginalized as a result of their race, culture, language, and/or ability. With the publication of the BLAC Report in 1994 and the government’s response in June 1995, a new comprehensive strategy was created to assist the Department of Education and the education system in redressing the condition of African Nova Scotian learners.

African Nova Scotian Support Worker

Drumlin Heights Consolidated School: Kayla Fells

The mandate of the Student Support Worker Program is to support academic success and improve self-esteem (both academic and cultural) for African Nova Scotian learners through positive role modelling and collaboration with administrators, teachers, parents/ guardians and the community. By providing positive role models and ongoing opportunities for collaboration with administration, teachers, parents/guardians and the community, it supports African Nova Scotian students in areas that impact educational achievement.

Student support workers, together with school efforts, work to promote a school climate that is safe, supportive, and respectful and that connects African Nova Scotian students to a broad array of school and community resources.

By supporting the efforts of the classroom teachers and the principal and facilitating the communications between the school and the home, the Student Support Worker Program strives to achieve improved attendance rates, greater contact with supportive adults, greater compliance with school assignments and rules, and reduce the school suspensions and drop out rate among African Nova Scotian students.

The student support worker mobilizes and integrates school and community resources, improves the impact of these resources on student learning, and supports principals and teachers as they continue to work to meet the students’ needs. He or she can inform students of outside resources. Additionally, student support workers who are of African descent serve as cultural role models.

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