IQALUIT
The Government of Nunavut is hosting a series of public meetings across the territory to gather public feedback on proposed changes to the Education Act.

The proposed changes run the gamut from increasing standardization across the territory, especially for bilingual education, to underlining and clarifying the role of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the legislation.

Also included are proposed changes that would shift some of the responsibilities of district education authorities to education staff, including the responsibility for funding early childhood education.

"We're attempting to I think refocus the Education Act on students, refocus on student achievement and really to try to find whatever efficiencies we can," said assistant deputy minister of education, John MacDonald. "In a jurisdiction with limited resources, we need to be almost single minded about making sure that our students get the best learning opportunities they possibly can."

Since the current Education Act came into effect in 2008, it's been through several major reviews by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and the Nunavut legislative assembly.

MacDonald said of particular interest with this round of consultations is the role of teachers, especially teachers coming from the south, and the history and culture of Nunavut.

"We're looking at ways of trying to find better opportunities to train people and orient them to what they can expect so that they're on board as an employee in our department in a more cohesive and effective way. So that they're prepared for what they're getting into and so that they understand their communities better," he said, adding that although there are many southern teachers who stay in the territory, there is a high rate of turnover with teachers, principals and other staff that can be disruptive.

"If they understand that legacy of residential schooling, for example, they'll have better, more patience ... You know if you're a teacher coming into Nunavut, and there are many on an annual basis, and you don't have an awareness of why your students or their parents for example might not want to show up to a parent-teacher meeting, there's assumptions that can be made there and miscommunications and problems and we see that over and over," he said. "It all comes together. It all touches on a students ability ... to be successful."

The public feedback sessions are intended to help the Department of Education understand the opinions of Nunavummiut about these proposed changes, to help in the development of the legislation that will be examined and voted on by MLAs. The Department of Education hopes to have the new act in place by the fall of 2017.

The public meetings are scheduled for Arviat on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at Qitiqliq Middle School; in Kugluktuk on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at Jimmy Hikok Ilihavik; in Pangnirtung on Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Alookie School; in Arctic Bay on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. at Inuujaq School and in Apex on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. at Nanook School. People unable to attend the meetings can e-mail feedback, questions and comments to the Department of Education until Sept. 2.

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