Darren Campbell
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 07/98) - Atlantic Canada has traditionally suffered from out migration -- that is people from the east coast move away to find jobs elsewhere in Canada.

Schools in the Northwest Territories are beginning to know exactly what that feels like.

Last year the teacher turnover among the 992 teachers employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories was 20 per cent.

"I think that is significantly high," said Pat Thomas, president of the Northwest Territories Teachers Association.

While there is little difference in the turnover percentage between the Eastern and Western Arctic, some regions have an extremely high teacher turnover. Thomas said in the Sahtu the turnover was 50 per cent.

So why the high percentage? Thomas said there are a few major reasons. One is that their wages were rolled back by six per cent last year. Another is the loss of the vacation travel allowance in 1996. A third reason is the GNWT no longer subsidizes the teachers housing, leaving them paying $1,600-1,800 a month in rent.

Thomas said with the high turnover, the quality of education in the schools are being affected and it is getting harder to recruit new teachers.

So what is the solution to the problem? Thomas said the GNWT has to start treating their teachers better.

"The wage and benefits package has to be addressed," said Thomas.