Iqaluit (May 02/05) - Schools across the territory will have 82 more positions to fill.

Ed Picco, the minister of education, announced the increase to school staff, which will take effect in August and September, on Thursday.

"We are striving for a 20-to-one pupil-teacher ratio," said Picco. "That would make Nunavut classrooms among the smallest in Canada."

The Kitikmeot will get two teachers, one program (student) support teacher, five school counsellors, 3.5 custodians and eight student support assistants.

The Kivalliq will get one new teacher, a part-time program (student) support teacher, three language specialists, two school counsellors, six custodians and 11.5 student support assistants.

In the Baffin, there are 10 new teaching positions, a part-time program (student) support teacher, two language specialist positions, one school counsellor, five custodians and 20.5 student support assistants.

The allocations were done based on total school enrollment, Picco said.

Former teacher Doug Workman praised the new positions.

"The bilingual education system for the most part hasn't been well policed over the last few years on how effective the programs are," said Workman. "At least now we have quality and quantity."

Nunavut enrolments are 2,703 in the Kivalliq, 4,590 in the Baffin, and 1,518 in the Kitikmeot.

According to the Department of Education, 130 students graduated from schools in Nunavut in 2004.