NR 08-34 B21 ENG Education Act Not Ready.doc
(September 16, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Leaders of Nunavut’s Inuit organizations today collectively urged the Nunavut Legislative Assembly not to pass Bill 21, the proposed Education Act, in its current state.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Kivalliq Inuit Association, and Qikiqtani Inuit Association all believe that Bill 21 is not ready. In a submission to the Legislative Assembly’s Health and Education Standing Committee earlier this year, regarding fundamental flaws in Bill 21, NTI cited included 77 recommendations for change. Seventy-two of those recommendations have not been incorporated into the legislation, said NTI President Paul Kaludjak.
In Bill 21, the French District Education Authority successfully gained authority over the employment of teachers and principals, curriculum, school program plans, and expulsion of students, and maintained the divisional board that was established in 2004.
A two-tier system is being created. DEAs need to be given the same level of authority that the French DEA was given. Inuit have the right to have a say in their children’s education, which can be achieved through DEAs, said QIA President Thomasie Alikatuktuk.
In its present state, Bill 21 will achieve full Inuktitut immersion from Kindergarten to Grade 12 only in 2019-2020.
Institutions and authorities that were forced on Inuit in the past were failures, said Kivalliq Inuit Association President Jose Kusugak. The French DEA will work because the Francophone community achieved the autonomy they wanted in their education authority. If the government wants success in Inuit education, they know it has to be requested by the people. Just show us the goal, we know how to get there.
Bill 21 also puts children with special needs at risk being failed by the education system. If the Act is passed as is, Nunavut would be the only jurisdiction in Canada to make cost a legislated reason to restrict support for special needs students.
There is no requirement that all special needs students be properly placed and educated. Education is a basic human right. We have a high number of special needs students in Nunavut. Bill 21 needs to address this. said Kitikmeot Inuit Association Acting President, Raymond Kayasark.
Bill 21 is still in need of improvement. Our children’s education is much too important to rush a bill through. Inuit are prepared to work with the next government to achieve a better Act, said Kaludjak.
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