Indigenous Adult Basic Education Diploma
The BC Adult Graduation Diploma (also known as the Adult Dogwood) program gives students high school completion, and prepares them for careers and post-secondary education. IABE is accredited by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and affiliated with Vancouver Community College (VCC). This program embodies an Indigenous perspective by offering Cultural Studies, Social Justice, and Creative Writing with Indigenous Approaches, including First Peoples English and First Nations Studies. All our English courses use literature by Indigenous authors to provide a cultural perspective and Indigenous worldview. After completing this program, graduates will meet the Grade 12 prerequisite requirements for post-secondary education at all accredited institutions.
Intakes:
- January 2025
- April 2025
- September 2025
This program is full-time, Monday to Friday, and 12 months in duration.
Classes are in person in Vancouver, B.C.
Admission Requirements
- 18 years old or older
- High school transcript
- Completed CAAT assessment.
If you do not have your High school transcript, and CAAT assessment documents, you can do a placement exam at NEC
| Tuition: | $0 - Paid by the Province |
| Fees: | $150.00 |
| Books: | $0 - Depends on the course(s) taken |
| UPass: | $186.00 |
| Total Cost: | $336.00 |
This diploma program is Tuition-Free, and if eligible you can get your fees, books and Upass covered by the Adult Upgrading Grant.
Occupation upon Completion
Our graduates can continue their post-secondary education at Native Education College by taking one of the certificate or diploma programs, including:
- Health Care Assistant
- Indigenous Justice Studies
- Information Technology Support Technician
- Indigenous Land Stewardship
- Office administration and Employment training
- Family and Community Counselling
- Indigenous Early Childhood Education
Get tuition-free
Our IABE program is tuition free, and if eligible you can get your fees, books and Upass covered by the Adult Upgrading Grant.
Small Class Size
Structured classroom-based in-person and supportive courses
Gain the skills you need with the BC Adult High School Diploma
After completing the BC Adult Graduation Diploma students meet the requirements to apply to any other program at NEC, university, or college of your choice in B.C.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Indigenous Adult Graduation Diploma, the learner will:
Analyze how First Peoples languages and texts reflect their cultures, knowledge, histories, and worldviews.
Appreciate and understood how language constructs and reflects personal, social, and cultural identities.
Recognize and understand the role of story, narrative, and oral tradition in expressing First Peoples perspectives, values, beliefs, and points of view.
Connect mathematical concepts with each other or other areas of personal and professional interest.
Understand the impact of historical exchanges of ideas, practices, and materials among local B.C. First Peoples and non-Indigenous cultures.
Increase awareness and understanding of digital security risks and working with multiple learning platforms.
Course Descriptions
To graduate with an Adult Dogwood, students must have:
- A required Language Arts 12 course
- A Math 11 or 12 course
- At least three additional Grade 12 electives, or a Grade 11 Socials Studies course and two additional Grade 12 electives
Courses and credits can be counted from either or both the public secondary and post-secondary systems.
Of the five courses required for the Adult Dogwood, at least three must be completed after the adult student has entered the Adult Graduation Program, either through enrolment (instruction) or Prior Learning Assessment. This means that students can receive credit toward the Adult Dogwood for no more than two qualifying courses completed while in the B.C. (school-aged) Graduation Program. You cannot receive an Adult Dogwood using only courses completed prior to enrolling in the Adult Graduation Program.
Native Education College ABE program course offerings:
| Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
| (Intermediate Level) | (Advanced Level) | (Provincial Level) |
| First Peoples English 040 | First Peoples English 060 | First Peoples English 081 |
| MTH 040 | MTH 061 or MTH 062 | First Nations Studies 080 |
| FNS 060 | Creative Writing 080 | |
| Social Justice 080 | ||
| Computers 080 |