With young Nunavummiut returning to class, there are a number of things to consider for the 2024-25 school year.
One of them, teacher staffing, is a lingering issue. As of Aug. 19, there were a total of 128.5 vacancies in Nunavut: 57 in Kivalliq, 56.5 in Qikiqtani and 15 in Kitikmeot.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is a global teacher shortage. This makes it a very competitive market,SA国际影视传媒� said Matthew Illaszewicz, director of stakeholder engagement at the Department of Education. SA国际影视传媒淥ur school leaders along with district education authorities (DEAs), with support from the regional school operations, have been working throughout the hiring season to fill as many positions to build strong school teams. There are educator vacancies in most communities, but to varying degrees. As of Aug. 19, there are many schools in all regions that need one or more educator positions filled.SA国际影视传媒�
The communities with the largest gaps in hiring are, in order, Naujaat (17), Arviat (15), Rankin Inlet (11), Iglulik (10), and Arctic Bay (6).
According to Cambridge Bay DEA spokesman Alan Sim, "there are a few vacancies" in the community. "Mainly SST [student support teachers] and a couple of teachers." He added that this year, the hiring process was "similar to other years. Long."
Teacher vacancies occur due to retirement, resignation, the end of term hires and personnel increases through each district education authority based on the number of students, according to Illaszewicz.
SA国际影视传媒淓ighty-one per cent of all teaching positions in Nunavut have been filled," he said. "Positions that are not filled yet are still in competition until filled. We have hired Nunavut TeachersSA国际影视传媒� Association positions, including: principals, vice-principals, teachers, guidance counsellors, learning coaches, student support teachers and language specialists. We still need to still hire staff for all positions, but in general, junior high and high school are the positions in most need.SA国际影视传媒�
As of December 31, 2023, out of the 810.5 teachers on staff across the territory, 287 of them were Inuit, which means approximately 35 per cent of the teaching workforce was Inuit, Illaszewicz noted.
Curriculum changes
Changes to the Nunavut curriculum to create a more culturally-appropriate model are still in progress.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Department of Education is developing a made-in-Nunavut curriculum for all subjects and grades designed to be taught in Inuktut and English,SA国际影视传媒� said Illaszewicz. SA国际影视传媒淲e have a 20-year development and implementation schedule for the curriculum; this means the transition from the current curriculum to the made-in-Nunavut curriculum will occur in intervals within 12 years, as per our implementation schedule.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur current focus is on completing the kindergarten to Grade 6 curricula by finalizing the assessment documents and developing the supporting components, like identifying the resources needed and the training plan of our educators. The development of the grades 7-9 curriculum started in 2022-2023 and will continue in 2024-2025.SA国际影视传媒�
Additionally, the Department of Education detailed how it arrived at the curriculum changes: SA国际影视传媒淲e continually work to achieve culturally-relevant curriculum, supported by appropriate assessments and resources, which will enhance the delivery of courses in Inuktut. The Language of Instruction Action Plan will effectively support educators and students in the successful implementation and delivery of the madeSA国际影视传媒慽nSA国际影视传媒慛unavut curriculum in all schools across the territory.SA国际影视传媒�
Sim said the efforts made in Cambridge Bay are similar. "We try to include as much Inuit-based programming as possible."
Illaszewicz added, SA国际影视传媒淭he Department of Education is developing the kindergarten to grade 6 curricula and assessments in all subject areas and has already developed over 1,500 teacher and student resources in Inuktut.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur department is on track to develop curriculum and associated resources for all subject areas. The first year of implementation for all subjects will be the 2025-26 school year and will be in kindergarten and Grade 1.SA国际影视传媒�
As for school supplies, the Department of Education made it clear that SA国际影视传媒淒EAs have the budget to purchase all the necessary school supplies needed for their classrooms and students.SA国际影视传媒� However, SA国际影视传媒減ersonal belongings such as backpacks and indoor shoes are the responsibility of the parents/guardians,SA国际影视传媒� Illaszewicz concluded.
According to Sim, the barge containing back-to-school supplies for the community has not yet arrived, so he's not able to say if students will be fully prepared on that front. The question of cost might become an issue if the community attempted to fly supplies in, so "we try to get everything in by barge," he said.
