INUVIK - After three days spent drawing up wish lists for the NWT's education system with his peers, Grade 10 student Curtis Illasiak was stunned by some of the challenges facing his fellow students across the Beaufort Delta.

"It was shocking. I didn't know some students really have that much wrong with their schools," the Aklavik student said, citing lack of a science teacher in Tuktoyaktuk, lack of storage space at his own school and a lack of specialized Grade 12 courses in all schools.

Illasiak was one of more than 30 students from across the region to gather in Inuvik last week for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's first Youth Town Hall Forum on Education. The students listened to guest speakers and educators from across the North and shared their visions for an improved school system.

"I wanted to hear what other people needed for their schools so I could get ideas of what I need for our school," said Illasiak, emphasizing the importance of recreational activities for youth in schools.

Many students echoed each other's concerns, including the need for a wider variety of high school courses to prepare them for post-secondary school and a career.

The youths' recommendations will be collected and featured in an IRC report on NWT youth and education to coincide with a larger summit coming up in August.

Youth summit co-ordinator Holly Donley said she hopes the report will influence change within the territory's current education system.

"We see that the youth want to do well in school," she said. "They were saying that they need an opportunity to get an education that will prepare them for a post-secondary institution of their choice, because a lot of the programs and classes that are required for a Grade 12 diploma aren't necessarily the ones required to get access to a college or university."

Beverly Lennie, who helped facilitate the gathering, said she noticed many students want more than just the basic requirements for a diploma, but they sometimes aren't sure which route to take.

"A lot of students who are aboriginal are mainstreamed into the general studies," she said.

Guest speakers, including education professionals James Anderson from Yellowknife and Christina King from Tuktoyaktuk, were popular with the students and helped inform them about upgrading opportunities and long-distance education.

Courtney Larocque, a college student and representative of the National Inuit Youth Council from Inuvik, said she would like future generations of NWT high schoolers to have access to more teachers and tailored courses to suit their needs.

"I hope they listen to our thoughts and concerns and get stuff done about it," she said.