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Changes announced to education
Premier and minister say new support system intended to get better results

Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 24, 2014

IQALUIT
The Government of Nunavut is hoping to jump start the territory's failing education system by introducing new and updated curriculum, changing graduation requirements and promoting community and family engagement in the school system.

"We have heard from parents, communities that they want our students to develop the math, science and literacy skills they need to successfully pursue post-secondary studies or find challenging and satisfying employment," said Education Minister Paul Quassa during a March 21 news conference at Aqsarniit Middle School in Iqaluit.

The Department of Education is currently working on adapting curriculum from the NWT and Alberta in the areas of math, science and English language arts.

It is also introducing an assessment framework to evaluate students' numeracy skills and literacy levels in English, Inuktitut and French.

"Accurate, reliable assessment is vital to guiding and improving student learning and assessing the overall effectiveness of our education system," said Quassa.

The department is implementing standardized approaches to teach reading and writing. Students will be introduced to programs such as guided reading, guided writing and word study.

The department has invested nearly $1 million to update school resources, programs and assessment systems.

Plus, it is working with a publisher to produce an extensive series of books in Inuktitut.

Quassa also announced that Grade 12 students will no longer be required to complete the Aulajaaqtut course to graduate and, instead, can choose to pursue courses that support their career path.

The Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities expressed concern over this change.

But Kathy Okpik, deputy minister of Education, tried to quell fears by mentioning plans to develop the course for Grades 7, 8 and 9.

"We recognize the health and social well-being has to start much, much earlier," said Okpik.

In keeping with the same theme, the department hopes to promote healthy living by changing the high school physical education requirement to five credits from three credits.

Quassa said the department has adopted a new theme - "parents motivate, students participate, together we can graduate" - and hopes to see progress in this area.

"I look forward to further developments supporting this theme as we all work together to make sure our students are in class, on time and mentally and physically ready to learn. I have great confidence students will achieve success by following this path."

The government announcement comes just four months after two damning auditor general reports, one assessing the territorial government's implementation of the Education Act, the other on safety in schools and childcare facilities across Nunavut - were tabled in the legislative assembly.

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