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More Inuit teachers needed

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jun 05/06) - A plan is being formed to strengthen Inuit culture and language in the Nunavut education system.

Educators from across Nunavut gathered in Iqaluit May 30 to June 1 to make recommendations on enhancing the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP).



Nellie Kusugak, co-chair of the Teacher Education Strategy panel, left, and Pelagie Owlijoot, curriculum development manager for Nunavut Arctic College, arrange groups and topics for an Iqaluit symposium on the future of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo


The exercise comes on the heels of a report by Thomas Berger, which underlines the need for a bilingual curriculum from preschool through Grade 12.

Inuktitut is rarely offered in senior schools and is only taught sparingly in most middle grades. The retention of language is fundamental to the Inuit's sense of identity, according to Berger. A greater number of educated and qualified Inuit are needed to achieve self-government ambitions set out in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, he noted.

Recruitment of more Nunavut residents into NTEP is therefore a key consideration, said Jacqui Bishop, a long-time teacher and co-chair of the Teacher Education Strategy panel.

"What we're doing here is critical," she said at last week's educators' conference.

The teaching program, launched in 1979, is permanently based in Iqaluit, but is offered in varying stages in other Nunavut communities on a temporary basis. It takes four years to complete all of the courses, but the standard is changing to a five-year model, according to Bishop.

The program graduates 11-15 individuals in an average year.

One idea to make it more enticing is to make the program more widely available in the communities, some conference-goers suggested.

Other preliminary recommendations to foster greater participation include advertising campaigns, having program graduates visit schools to speak to students and having principals and adult educators encourage suitable candidates to enter the program.

Distinct regional needs and improved support for teachers were also discussed.

Saimanaaq Netser, language instruction co-ordinator based in Arviat, sees a dire need for Inuktitut teachers at higher grade levels.

"We really have to keep our language alive," she said. "It's who we are."

The panel will incorporate recommendations from last week's symposium in its five-year strategic plan, which is to be submitted to the education minister in June.