Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 10/00) - Despite the fact that some schools in Nunavut are in dire need of massive repairs, more money still needs to be put directly into hiring teachers and providing student services, says the president of the Federation of Nunavut Teachers.

"Many schools are in desperate need of repair, but one of the concerns that I have is that there has been much to do about this additional $1.2 million for additional teachers. It is very clear that these additional teachers won't enhance or improve the conditions," said president Donna Stephania.

"They will simply maintain the status quo."

Stephania is referring to $1.2 million in the Department of Education's $150.4-million budget. That $1.2 million is expected to bring 12 to 14 new teachers on board for the start of the 2000 school year.

"The $1.2 million also compensates for extra-ordinary enrolment, meaning there is money allocated for additional resources and supplies that comes out of that number," said Stephania.

The department consumes 23 per cent of the total 2000-2001 territorial budget and of that, $15 million is being spent on capital projects.

In particular is the rebuilding of the Cambridge Bay high school that was destroyed by fire over two years ago. About $7.9 million has been allotted to the project -- a number that some MLAs are now saying is too high.

"One thing we want to see is keeping class sizes lower. Studies show that significant learning takes place with fewer children in the class," said Stephania.

"Teachers are getting tired and exhausted. They've been trying to do more with less for a very long time and as creative as teachers are and can be, the bottom line is what you can do with less is less."

Similar thoughts are echoed from teachers around the territory.

Joyce Caines is a teacher in Cape Dorset and she said she would like to see more teachers hired.

"I think in our community it's important to have more teachers for the students and for the special needs students," said Caines.

"We need more people working with the kids on an individual basis, even just reading with them, that should be the priority."

Education Minister James Arvaluk, however, says in order to maintain a low pupil\teacher ratio, even more money will have to be given to the department by the territorial government.