Fort Simpson (Mar 05/04) - Elementary and junior high students in Fort Simpson lack academic bench-marks states a report by an Edmonton education consultant.

The study contains dozens of recommendations, including modifying report cards to better reflect the grade level at which the student is functioning. It also advocates the phasing in of assessment tools such as Alberta Achievement Tests.

"...it becomes a challenge to determine where you want to be and what is a reasonable expectation for improvement in student achievement when you do not know where you now are or where you are headed," a passage from the document reads.

Betty Hardisty, chair of the Fort Simpson District Education Authority, said she is concerned with the report's findings on math and language arts programs from Grades 1-9. She said she wants both Fort Simpson schools to create an action plan.

"The goal is that eventually we should get in line with Alberta ... it is really critical because our students that are leaving for university or college wouldn't have the setback that they're experiencing right now," she said of students commonly having to spend a year or two in academic upgrading before being accepted at post-secondary institutions.

Action being taken

Nolan Swartzentruber, director of the region's education board, said the Dehcho Education Council has already developed a curriculum council with representation from various schools. It is also working on a curriculum alignment process for the sake of accountability. Each student will now be tracked through the curriculum, he said.

"We've got to be more specific about their learning outcomes," Swartzentruber said. "But there will always be things where we can improve. Sometimes we fail to look at how far we've come. I think it's important to keep it all in perspective."

He noted that the consultant, paid for by the education council, has an "Edmonton perspective," and she works in a much larger jurisdiction that has numerous education specialists and resource people.

"So we have to take a more holistic view of what we do; not diminishing the fact that we want to do better," said Swartzentruber adding the local objective is to meet the curriculum approved by the NWT's minister of education.

He also made reference to the points of commendation in the study. The document notes that teachers, "demonstrated a positive attitude about the (curriculum alignment) process and its possible value."

However, he said he takes great exception to a statement attributed to teachers indicating they, "do not have sufficient resources to effectively develop meaningful programs in math and language arts."

"There are piles of resources," he said. "All the resources they need to address the curriculum. The schools are well supplied."