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Legislative Assembly briefs
Hundreds graduate high school

Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 17, 2014

NUNAVUT
Education Minister Paul Quassa congratulated the 206 students in Nunavut who earned their high school diplomas in the 2013-14 school year.

"Graduating from high school is a significant achievement and we are all proud of our graduates and what they have accomplished," said Quassa to his fellow members in the legislative assembly last week.

"Our government has stated in its mandate document, Sivumut Abluqta, that education is our top priority. This means making sure that all Nunavut students receive high-quality education. The government cannot do this alone."

Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq noted during Question Period that the number of graduates in Nunavut changes every year and asked Quassa about the general trend of number of graduates in Nunavut.

"For this year, like I said, there are 206 graduated," said Quassa. "It's a smaller number than last year. Last year, we had 215 graduates in Nunavut. However, over the years, the trend is growing a little bit, although some years it's one or two less and then the other year it will be many more. If you look at it from 1990, the number of graduates has been rising."

In his statement Quassa also noted that partnerships are integral to student success - partnerships with parents and families, with district education authorities and the Nunavut Teachers Association. After learning that the department does not track the number of students that go on to further their education whether it's through university, college or trades, Savikataaq suggested it would be useful information to know that information.

Education Act reviewed

Baker Lake MLA Simeon Mikkungwak rose to remind Nunavummiut "that the legislative assembly's special committee to review Nunavut's Education Act welcomes thoughts and comments from the public on the effectiveness of Nunavut's education legislation which came into force just over five years ago."

Mikkungwak noted that it's the special committee's role to review the legislation.

"Our educators, our dedicated teachers, our elected community district education authorities, and many others work hard every day to deliver an education system that meets the needs of Nunavummiut," he said.

"The guiding force behind the delivery of Nunavut's education system is the piece of law that is the Education Act. The focus of our review is to ensure that this legislation provides the best guidance for delivering education in a way that meets the needs of Nunavummiut."

Training for social workers

"Can the minister explain why social service workers are using policies and procedures from a southern jurisdiction when all the studies and reports and the government's own legislation states that Inuit societal values must be taken into consideration when implementing the law," asked Cape Dorset MLA David Joanasie of Family Services Minister Jeanie Ugyuk on Nov. 6.

Joanasie said he'd asked the same question the previous week and

had not received a reply. Ugyuk said she met with her colleagues to discuss his concern, adding, "we are using Nunavut's legislation when we're dealing with our clients."

Joanasie then asked about cultural orientation for social workers, wanting to know who develops and delivers it.

"It's the directors who set up the orientation program," said Ugyuk. "We also implement the recommendations that are made by the office of the auditor general. We work with the Department of Culture and Heritage to develop the training material for new social workers moving into our territory."

On whether or not all social workers receive the cultural training, Ugyuk said, "the social workers have a very heavy work load, and they have to see their clients whether it is day or night, and I thank them very much for all the hard work they do to provide the appropriate services to the people.

"Yes, I can tell the member that the social service workers are provided with the appropriate cultural orientation training before entering the workforce."

The legislative assembly is adjourned until Feb. 24.

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