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Everyone wants to teach

Teacher education program returns

Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Arviat (June 18/03) - Turning over one quarter of your staff is usually a bad thing, but not for Levi Angmak school in Arviat.

According to principal Steve Handspiker, the school will be recruiting for five new positions. Last year the school didn't have any turnover at all.

"Out of 20 teachers, four people have been granted educational leave at our school," said Handspiker.

The four will be attending the teacher education program at Arctic College.

This will mark the first time the program has been offered in the hamlet since the early 1990s.

"We're very excited here," said Handspiker. "It's going to make a big difference in our community down the road."

The program is a four-year degree program offered in conjunction with McGill University. Linda Pemik, director of academic affairs with the college in Arviat, said approximately 20 seats were made available in the program.

"We had over 50 applicants," she said. "Lots of people want to be teachers because they see it as an attractive job."

As well, some teachers, like those from Levi Angmak Elementary, were looking to upgrade.

"A number of teachers here have their diplomas and want to complete their bachelors, so it's serving a variety of our needs," said Pemik.

The District Education Authority in Arviat has been pushing to bring the program back into the community.

Nunavut Arctic College offers four community-based teacher education programs in Nunavut.

Following the four years, the program in Arviat will move into another community.

Pemik said in a lot of cases people just cannot leave their community for four years to go back to school.

"I think it's going to make the difference between having fully qualified teachers and not having them," she said.