Greenland teachers criticize new school policy

Greenland’s new educational policy, Atuarfialak, is supposed to come into effect in August – and it’s intended to meld Greenlandic culture and international competitiveness into the national school system.

But Greenland’s main teachers’ association is becoming increasingly skeptical that the “Good School” program is the answer to their problems.

The Siumut and Atassut parties praised Atuarfialak when they formed their new Home Rule government coalition in the beginning of the year.

But six months before Atuarfialak’s start-up, Greenland’s teachers are worrying the new educational policies will mean more work for them, requiring even longer days in difficult conditions.

Greenlandic teachers are already faced with increasingly hard times in their schools. Drop-out rates have increased – some say due to poor Danish-language skills, low standards and lack of discipline. At the new Business High School in the south Greenland community of Qaqortoq, half of the student body of 35 has dropped out since last August.