Native Education

NEC acknowledges the ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the host Nations xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ/selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Indigenous Adult Basic Education

diploma

Program Description

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.
The IABE program offers the ability to upgrade your courses or earn your Adult Dogwood Diploma.  

Program Highlights

  • Duration: 14 weeks per term
  • Delivery Method: On-campus 
  • Intakes:
    – Fall 2025
    – Winter 2026
    – Spring 2026
  • Schedule: We offer a flexible schedule. Each course consist of 7.5 instructional hours per week + homework

Adult Dogwood

 
To graduate with an Adult Dogwood, students must have 5 courses/20 credits:
  • A required Language Arts 12 course or equivalent
  • A math 11 or 12 course or equivalent
  • 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.
 
For questions and answers regarding the Adult Dogwood, please refer to the 2024/25 Adult Basic Education Articulation Handbook​.

Upgrading Courses

Adult learns can upgrade their courses here at NEC to meet the entry requirements to enter post secondary programs.  Most post secondary programs have entry requirements such as English or Math component.  Available course are listed below. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1) Develop enhanced literacy and numeracy skills from an Indigenous lens.

2) Understand the impacts of colonization and critically apply this knowledge from your own Indigenous worldview.

3) learners will develop and demonstrate foundational knowledge and skills in key subject areas — such as English, math, science, and social studies — through culturally grounded, relevant, and supportive learning experiences.

We are committed to providing a welcoming and culturally safe environment where students can thrive on their educational journey.

Authentic Indigenous Academic Programs and Curriculum

Prevention of Genocide - Critical and Cultural Thought Processes

Holistic Wrap Around Supports

Course offerings

MATH 020Mathematics – Fundamental
MATH 040Mathematics – Intermediate
MATH 062Business & Technical Mathematics – Advanced
FPE 040First Peoples English – Intermediate
FPE 060 First Peoples English – Advanced
FPE 081First Peoples English Literature – Provincial
ESSIA 060Exploring Social Science with Indigenious Approaches – Advanced 
ENVSC 060Environmental Science – Advanced
CST 060Computer Studies – Advanced
CST 080Computer Studies – Provincial
CRW 080Creative Writing – Provincial
SJIA 080Social Justice and Indigenous Approaches – Provincial
EDCP 080Education and Career Planning – Intermediate

Admission Requirements

Highschool Admission

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • age 18 or older
  • provide a transcript for assessment or Accuplacer assessment test (link here for accuplacer)
Mature Admission

 

  • 18 years or older

tuition and fees

These courses are tuition fee for eligible students.  The StudentAid BC Adult Upgrading Grant may cover tuition, books, transportation costs, childcare, and other fees.  Adult Upgrading Grant must be applied every term.  Students are eligible to receive funding to repeat a course only once after failing or withdrawing from the course.  Click here for additional information.

*This program does NOT need to be approved by Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU)of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Returning students – Please contact the program manager for more information 

New students – Please contact the IABE Pathways Coordinator for more information 

Longhouse Values

These original laws are embedded in every aspect of our House. They invite cultural identity and selfdetermination of Indigenous Peoples, which empowers learners to advance their unique personal and educational goals.

  • Diversity
  • Respect
  • Understanding
  • Gratitude
  • Accountability