Nunavut MLA questions territory’s quality of education

MLA Johnny Ningeongan, shown here in the foyer of the legislature, says Nunavut’s education department must ensure the Nunavut’s Grade 12 graduates are prepared to enter post-secondary studies. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nanulik MLA Johnny Ningeongan started off this session of the legislature by congratulating recent Grade 12 graduates in Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet.

Celebrating Nunavut’s high school graduates is always a positive thing – but are enough young students in Nunavut getting the education they need to succeed, he asked.

“Every year after graduation, it seems that we hear from a number of very disappointed young adults and their disappointed parents who discover that their Grade 12 graduation qualifications are simply not adequate for them to enter the post-secondary program of their choice,” Ningeongan said to the assembly Oct. 21.

Ningeongan brought the subject up again Oct. 26, asking Premier Eva Aariak, who also serves as education minister, about how Nunavut plans to upgrade its education system.

Currently, Nunavut’s grade 12 graduation requirements closely follow those of Alberta, where students must complete 100 credits of secondary course work, she said.

But along the way, it’s “critical” for students to do career planning, so they know what courses they need to enter the post-secondary program of their choice.

”As students enter high school, it is very important that they look at the course choices and consider what they want to do later on in school as a career, so that the student can be assisted in the areas he or she might need extra help,” Aariak said during the Oct. 26 question period.

Students are required to do an ongoing career and program plan starting in Grade 9, with help from their family, teachers and other support staff in the schools, she said.

But Aariak couldn’t say how many schools have staff committed to help with career planning, such as guidance counsellors, but said that the education department plans to make that support available.

“We are currently reviewing our graduation requirements and recommendations for changes,” she said, noting the changes will be based on meetings with a variety of partners. “Education in general cannot be under the responsibility of one individual. We have to work together for the education of the student.”

“It has been only a few years since the Education Act was passed and we’re still working on the implementation,” she added.

In the meantime, Aariak pointed out that 241 students graduated from grade 12 in 2011 – the highest number the territory has ever seen.

But Ningeongan says he’s not convinced those numbers tell the whole story.

Ningeongan said he doesn’t hold teachers, parents or students responsible for the education system’s shortcomings, because they work with a set curriculum and policies for assessment and passing.

“I have felt that it’s with the education system itself which is failing to provide what is necessary to prepare our students for their future careers,” he told MLAs.