But completion of the program might result in a few more doors opening to the participants.

Every weekday since late November, up to a dozen people have gathered at the at the Fort Providence youth centre. There, they learn basic English and Slavey and take math lessons. They also take turns using the one computer in the building.

Some are students who have dropped out of high school. Others are adults on income support. For them, continued government assistance is conditional upon their attendance in the program, according to instructor Lee Thom.

The Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre, the Local Training Authority and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have combined their funds to create the program, Thom noted.

She collected literacy material from various sources, but a popular read has been the NWT driver's manual, she said. A few of the students are trying to pass the test.

Thom said most of the people present genuinely want to improve their literacy skills.

"They get their work done, yeah," she said, adding that homework is assigned. "Some of them, you've got to push them a little harder."

While working on a grammar lesson on plural nouns, Michael James Landry said he hopes to achieve his Grade 12 equivalency and then find a good summer job in Fort Providence.

Michelle Landry has been trying to get pre-trades math under her belt. She has an eye on registering for the pre-trades program with Aurora College.

Mary Jane Nadli and Angie Farcy are two of the eldest students in the class. They said they help each other with the word puzzles, getting spelling right and math and science lessons. They both hope to be accepted to Aurora College's adult basic education program, they said.

Farcy is even thinking beyond that. She said she wants to take a secretary's course.

"That's what I want to do, work on the computer," she said.