In its first report on the education of aboriginal students, the Fraser Institute is giving B.C.'s school system a failing grade.

The report says course failure rates among aboriginals are at least double that of non-aboriginal students.

It also says B.C.'s aboriginal youngsters failed more than 40 per cent of the province's reading tests.

First Nations Education Steering Committee president Deborah Jeffries says the report is nothing new, but she feels it doesn't tell the whole story.

"The other critical piece is the linguistic cultural competencies that we also want to ensure that are in place for our children, so that they can be contributing members within our nations," says Jeffries.

First Nations groups are also critical of the report because it doesn't look at why aboriginal students are doing so poorly, and it doesn't make any suggestions for improvement.

New initiative in Prince George

Meanwhile, Premier Gordon Campbell says he's glad the Prince George School Board is considering the province's first all-aboriginal high school.

Trustees in the northern city say they're concerned about the high native dropout rate in local schools.

They also point to the success of an high school in Edmonton which is centred around aboriginal culture.

"I think it's an initiative that's worth pursuing," says the premier."If it works in Prince George, will it work elsewhere in the province?…

"I'd love to hear how they think it will work in Cranbrook or Stewart or Terrace."

Campbell says he'd like to see the graduation rate of aboriginal students boosted to that of non-native students.