Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 25/98) - As Internet training becomes increasingly accessible in Inuvik, representatives of the eight circumpolar countries focused on youth and education at the first ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council Sept. 17 and 18 in Iqaluit.

Ministers adopted Canada's children and youth of the Arctic initiative which focuses on the health and social well being of youth.

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart noted there was support for the long-talked-about concept of a University of the Arctic or a university without walls. All ministers at the conference formally encouraged the Circumpolar Universities Association to move forward with the initiative by endorsing a working group proposal on the concept.

In Inuvik, Samuel Hearne principal Bernie MacLean says "we're a heck of a lot better off than a lot of schools across the country, I'll tell you that."

That sentiment is probably spurred by how the school has a new computer lab with about 20 computers which, MacLean says, is being used to teach junior high level students keyboarding, word processing and other computer skills.

"That's a brand new lab," MacLean says.

The school also has an old computer lab for students in Career Technology Studies programs focusing on subjects such as computer studies and accounting, according to MacLean.

At Aurora College continuing education coordinator Shauna Mackay says the college is looking for students to take an adult education training program starting in October to achieve practical skills helpful landing various jobs.

The certificate in adult education comprises ten courses in total which students can take in several different ways including a mix of teleconference or even taking some courses in Yellowknife.

"We offer a bachelor of administration in conjunction with Athabasca University," MacKay says of another program.

"And all three campuses -- Yellowknife, Fort Smith and us -- take part in that and we do that by teleconference."

Meanwhile the NWT Training Centre will hook up its eight computers in the next week or so, according to adult education coordinator Parker Israel.

"It's started," he says of the shift to cyber-schooling.

"(Governments) are certainly willing to use it."

So are large corporations such as the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation which started a 31-week computer-based training program Sept. 21.