NTI Supports the Extension for Proposed Education Bill

NR 08-17 BIL ENG Education Bill Delayed.doc

(March 12, 2008 - Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. supports the Nunavut Legislative Assembly's motion that has given the Health and Education Standing Committee a 120-day extension to carefully consider Bill 21, the Education Act.

NTI has worked with the Department of Education and all other stakeholders in the development of Bill 21, and now NTI looks forward to working with the Government of Nunavut during the next 120 days to strengthen the proposed legislation, said Acting President James Eetoolook. We need a new Education Act, but its provisions must truly reflect the linguistic and cultural reality of Nunavut.

Areas of significant concern within the draft Bill include language of instruction, the lack of an adequate replacement of the regional boards of education, the role of the district education authorities, the lack of enforceable provisions to ensure Inuit culture and society is the foundation of the education system, and the lack of commitment to special needs students.

Eetoolook said local control is a basic principle of Canadian education. All jurisdictions in Canada accept that principle except Nunavut. Abolishing the regional boards of education and reducing the authority of the district education authorities eliminated an effective method by which parents and the community exercised influence over the schools in a democratic manner. Eetoolook said NTI is simply asking government to give Inuit the same level of local control over education as currently enjoyed by the francophone community in Iqaluit.

Nunavut's education system is failing its students. Thirty-five years of academic and government studies have proven that when schools embrace the Aboriginal culture and values of the community, students excel. Inuit have been demanding an Inuit-specific education since we moved into communities. This is why NTI calls for our language, culture, and society to be the foundation of the education system, said Eetoolook.

NTI is optimistic that government will use the next four months to revisit and revise the legislation to produce an innovative and effective Education Act.

For further information:

Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
kmccluskey@tunngavik.com
www.tunngavik.com