Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 11/98) - The Canadian population is said to be aging rapidly.

In Yellowknife, however, the demographics of age are showing a different trend, with the population under the age of 25 not only increasing rapidly, but showing no signs of decreasing any time soon.

As of 1996, the population in the city of Yellowknife alone stood at 17,275, with 32 per cent of the population (5,810) under the age of 19. The national average for Canadians under the age of 19 is 26 per cent.

At the Yellowknife education districts the challenge in education is becoming an immense one as teachers grapple with the increases.

"The larger pupil-teacher ratio means a decrease in the amount of time teachers can spend with each student," says Liz Baile, a student support consultant with the separate school board.

In her position with the board, Baile spends a large portion of her time meeting with local community group to try and co-ordinate services provided by the school with those which can be provided by the community at large.

She also says that the board is working to find equitable solutions for all students within the system. One program, Skills for Life, provides students at risk with more teacher involvement and help to address the special needs of the student, whether it be academic, social or emotional.

Baile also says that the changing face of the school system has made the challenge for teachers even more difficult.

"It's hard to keep track of who's in charge of what," she says. "Just when you think you've got everything is in place, the family is gone.

"The teachers work 110 per cent, and then the students move or they're not coming to school. It's sort of discouraging."

For the Yk No. 1 Education District, the challenge comes in ensuring the programs which are being offered fulfil the needs of the students. The challenge becomes even more pronounced when school boards are expected to do more and more with a fixed amount of resources.

"We can't fulfil all the needs of all the students in everything we do," says Ken Woodley, superintendent of Yk No. 1 Education District.

That taken into consideration, Woodley says the school board has continually strived to provide its 2,350 students with programs and other necessary services to ensure they are getting the most benefit from their education.

"We continually assess the programs we deliver not just to fulfil what they want to be doing later in life, but what they want to be doing at 16, 17, and 18," he says. "We want to pave the way towards students becoming well-adapted, well-balanced individuals."