Last week the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) published a report regarding Support for High School Students and Adult Learners. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) is alarmed by the long list of barriers Inuit face to achieve basic educational requirements. .
“I am incredibly disappointed that the only requirement to graduate high school is passing grade 12 English,” said NTI President Aluki Kotierk. “With the creation of our territory Inuit expected an Inuktut education system based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. .”
“This report comes at a time when the Department of Education is seeking to obtain more authority over operations of Nunavut schools in Bill 25,” said Kotierk. “Yet, they are failing to deliver on current responsibilities. I call on the Government of Nunavut to work with NTI to address pressing education issues.”
NTI has consistently sought to work with the Government of Nunavut to address challenges in Education. Most recently, NTI has been working through the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee to access federal funds to strengthen Inuktut language instruction, increase the number of Inuit educators and improve education outcomes for Nunavut students.
A a high-school diploma and post-secondary education are necessary in order to become employable in the government and private sector. For the past twenty years, the percentage of Inuit employment in the government has been consistently 50% with no significant progress at the upper management and executive levels.
NTI welcomes the comprehensive report by the OAG and the call to action for the Government of Nunavut to work with partners to address pressing education issues.
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For further information:
Malaya Mikijuk, Assistant Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Qajaaq Ellsworth, Senior Communications Advisor
Office of President Aluki Kotierk
