Adult education program attracts record number of students
Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services
RANKIN INLET (Sep 30/98) - Adults in the Keewatin are lining up to go back to school.
More students than ever are getting back to the books to improve their literacy skills through Nunavut Arctic College's adult basic education course in Rankin Inlet. Appropriately named Countdown to Nunavut for its emphasis on training for the new government, this year's program has 30 students, up from six last year.
Adult educator Angie Kubluitok said that Nunavut Arctic College received more than 50 applications for the course and could only accept 30 for the training because of space constraints.
"We are very sad -- we didn't want to turn anyone away," she said.
Kubluitok said that the course, which started this week, provides literacy training, Inuktitut classes and work experience with a strong emphasis on preparing students for a job."It is to get ready for the Nunavut government coming up in 1999," she added.
Student Bernice Sandy of Rankin Inlet is learning to read so she can help her kids with their homework and to find herself a job while they're at school. "I've got four kids in school and they need help with their homework...I want to help them get a job in the future," she said. "But mostly I'm doing this for myself...I can't read, so the only jobs I can get is as a cashier, cleaning or babysitting." Sandy, 28, said she tried several times to go back to school, but found it difficult with young kids. She has some advice for young people who are contemplating quitting school. "I hope other students out there understand that if they quit school, they won't be able to help their kids with their homework," she said. "And going back to school and looking after kids is hard."Mary-Jane Aggark of Rankin Inlet said she also had been waiting to take the upgrading course for a long time, but admits that caring for her children and attending school is not easy.
"I quit in Grade 7 and it was a tough decision to go back to school and find a babysitter for my kids," she said.
But Aggark, 31, said it will be worth it. "I'd like to get a job when I finish," she added.
