Fort Smith (May 29/06) - A high school student in Fort Smith had a dress delivered from the U.S. and a new pair of shoes, all in anticipation of her high school graduation.

However, she and nine other students were deemed ineligible for the May 25 ceremony at Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School.

"It was really disappointing," she says.

The students were not permitted to participate because they were not passing all of the required courses, even though the final marks have yet to be determined. That policy was established 12 years ago by the Fort Smith District Education Authority (DEA).

"It's ridiculous because they really don't know who's passing at this point," says the 18-year-old student, who wishes to remain anonymous.

She notes she is close to passing the English 30 course which has been the main problem for the ineligible students. In fact, she believes she will receive a diploma when final marks are in.

All students want to be recognized for reaching the end of their high school years, she notes. "It's a big deal in this community."

Parents are angry their children were not permitted to participate in the graduation.

In a May 20 letter to Education Minister Charles Dent, some note the decision on who was eligible was made on the basis of 30 per cent of the final mark. There are still course assignments to be completed, along with departmental exams accounting for 50 per cent of the final mark.

"It appears extremely premature to ascertain that these students have already failed the course and should not participate in graduation," the letter reads.

"(Excluded students) have gone through anger, depression and despair. Some of them have been talking about quitting school altogether, while others have been ostracized by their peers."

Frank Lepine, one of the parents, says a convocation is supposed to be a celebration for all students, even though some may have to do over a course. "What's the problem with that?"

Once a student attends a convocation, he or she will not attend another one, he says.

Lepine notes relatives of one student had tickets to come from Aklavik and Inuvik for the graduation. They still made the trip, even though the student was deemed ineligible.

Lepine suggests the ceremony not be described as a graduation.

"They're not given their diplomas." he notes.

Another parent, Robert Daniels, is also upset.

"I think it was unfair the way they treated the kids," Daniels says. "I think they all should have walked."

The students will now miss the experience of a high school graduation ceremony, he says.

School principal Al Karasiuk says the decision date by which students were deemed eligible or ineligible to participate in the ceremony was May 8.

The parents appealed to the DEA and a 10-day extension was granted for students to try to improve their marks, but the extra time made no difference.

Karasiuk says there are usually only one or two students who aren't permitted to take part in the ceremony.

Nineteen PWK students were eligible, along with two adult learners.

"At some point you're going to have to make a call on who is eligible and who isn't."

The principal says the only other option would be to hold a graduation in the fall, when many students would be scattered to post-secondary schools or jobs.

Occasionally, a student at a graduation ends up failing, while another deemed ineligible passes, he notes.

Karasiuk feels it is important for the community to know graduating students are passing at the time of the ceremony. "Otherwise, it has no meaning."

Dent says he can't intervene in such issues, since it is not an academic matter and the ceremonies are not real graduations.

"It's a situation where the minister doesn't have authority," he says.

Instead, the guidelines for such events are set by local DEAs, he says.

The minister has written the parents to encourage them to continue discussing the issue with the DEA.

"I think the points they raised are good," he says

For example, he agrees it is important to celebrate students. "Why not encourage and recognize their dedication?"

And he agrees with the parents on the nature of the ceremony. "I think it's important to mark the milestone."

Dent notes some NWT schools hold graduations in August or September, but the majority hold them in May or June.