 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
 Jack Hicks, director of evaluation and statistics with the Nunavut government, wants to test for literacy in Inuktitut. |
"Currently all we have to rely on is grade completion levels and anecdotal information," said Kim Crockatt, executive director of the Nunavut Literacy Council.
The Nunavut government, Statistics Canada and the literacy council are funding the survey.
"For us to have an impact or to make a case for more funding we need to have fairly accurate stats and we don't have that right now," said Crockatt.
The survey is delivered in 30 countries world wide and is an in-depth look at individual literacy skills.
The results will give the literacy council and the government a way to focus delivery of literacy programs.
"Government programs are only supporting those who have basic literacy skills, but there are people outside of that," said Crockatt.
This year's survey will not evaluate Inuktitut literacy skills - something the Nunavut government is hoping to change next time.
Jack Hicks, director of evaluation and statistics with the territorial government, said the resources weren't available to offer the survey in Inuktitut.
It's a very complicated process, he said.
The survey material can't merely be translated to Inuktitut; "it has to be culturally relevant."
All the material for the survey must be developed from the ground up, tested and then sampled on a large cross-section of the population.
"It will literally cost millions," said Hicks.
Nunavut is working with Statistics Canada to develop an Inuktitut version and is looking to the federal government for funding.
Both Hicks and Crockatt are looking forward to the results of the survey.
"The days are gone when a government department or a NGO like the literacy council can go to Ottawa and say our numbers are this and we need 'X' number of dollars. People want to have proof," said Hicks.
And, that proof may be a little surprising according to Crockatt.
"We know literacy levels are low in Nunavut and they are that way for different reasons. I am thinking we might be surprised, how low they actually are," she said.
