Coral Harbour school closed, education authority seeks meeting with GN officials
Sakku School was expected to welcome students back on Monday
The District Education Authority for Coral Harbour has closed the community’s school, saying it wants to meet with education officials from the territorial government to talk about unspecified concerns. (File photo)
The first day of school in Coral Harbour has been delayed by the local district education authority until it can meet with education officials from the territorial government — but the authority’s concerns are unclear.
Sakku School was expected to have its first day of school on Monday, however, it did not open its doors, confirmed Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki.
He described the local authority’s concerns as a human resources issue.
Malliki said the DEA didn’t want to reopen the kindergarten to Grade 12 school because “it doesn’t have a principal,” but said he could not discuss the matter further.
He said he learned Monday evening that the DEA had closed the school, and that it appeared to have been a sudden decision.
Nunatsiaq News became aware of the issue Tuesday when an anonymous post was shared to the local community Facebook group saying the DEA would close the school until territorial education officials arrange to meet in the hamlet.
The post, which has since been deleted, detailed other concerns about the school and conveyed support for an unnamed principal. Nunatsiaq News has been unable to verify the contents of the post and will not repeat the allegations.
A different message was later posted to the same Facebook group, repeating that the local DEA will keep Sakku School closed until further notice due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Malliki confirmed the DEA wants to meet with territorial education officials in Coral Harbour.
Representatives from the District Education Authority for Coral Harbour and the Coalition for Nunavut DEAs did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
It is unclear when the school will reopen, but a spokesperson for the Education Department said in an email Tuesday the department is aware of what’s going on.
“The Department of Education is aware of potential issues at Sakku School in Coral Harbour, but was not previously made aware of the DEA’s desire to close the school until the post was made on Facebook,” said Krista Amey, a spokesperson for the Department of Education.
“The department will be connecting with the DEA to discuss their concerns.”
Sakku School is scheduled to begin an extensive renovation project this fall, lasting for two years. It is unclear how the closure this week might impact the renovation schedule.
“I hope they resolve it so our students can return and get an education,” Malliki said.
These DEA’s have far too much power for an elected board of people who have little to no understanding of the educational system
Perhaps the long-standing problems with education in Nunavut are due to the Department of Education having almost all the power, while the parents, through the DEAs, have almost no power over the education of the children in their community.
Perhaps someone living in Coral Harbour will explain what is going on…
It’s mind-boggling to read that the DEA decided to not open the school due to not having a principal. The school does not have a vice-principal? or a teacher who has been there long term that can be delegated to act as principal is on-site?
Perhaps no one wants to step into that role? I certainly wouldn’t!
Take them all on the land, and give them a real education without cellphones and internet, and they would be happier
There is a lot of value in that I agree, but it has limits too when you consider the skills needed to function and succeed in the modern world.
Wouldn’t you agree?