Good news from Arvaluk

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

Education Minister James Arvaluk’s announcement this week that his department, at the beginning of Nunavut’s next school year, will be able to offer an Inuktitut language arts program at every grade level is welcome news for Nunavut residents.

The idea of giving the Inuit language the same status as English within Nunavut’s school system is a long-cherished dream. Inspired by the example set by nearby Greenland, many Nunavut residents have long-believed that the Inuit language is equal to English in its capacity to become a language of law, business, politics and education.

However, there are still many challenges to be overcome before this dream can become real.

The Nunavut government must soon confront the difficult and sensitive issue of orthography, and the related issue of language standardization.

They must also grapple with the seemingly perennial problem of producing the Inuktitut learning materials that teachers need to actually teach what is set out in the curricula they are given by the education department.

And, of course, the department must deal with a host of other issues that are affecting the quality of education in Nunavut schools. These include overcrowded classrooms, a looming shortage of teachers, and a long list of health and social problems that previous generations have inflicted upon Nunavut’s young.

But this week, Arvaluk has demonstrated that he has been able to at least point the education department in the right direction. That’s a good start. JB

Share This Story

(0) Comments