Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong is concerned that Indigenous students in the NWT's small communities are not getting the same quality of education as those in Yellowknife and other Canadian cities. 

"t's been like that for a long time," she said. "It's frustrating for everybody.

"We need to improve Indigenous education outcomes, It's not good." 

Weyallon Armstrong represents the Tlicho communities, all but one of which have populations of well under 1,000 people. 

She believes there are "a lot of good, wonderful teachersSA国际影视传媒� in those communities SA国际影视传媒� and other Indigenous communities around the territory SA国际影视传媒� but that the quality of education being offered suffers due to a lack of resources.

"We just need more resources," she said. "We need more workers. We need more people to work with the young people."

The lower quality education in some NWT communities creates many problems, according to Weyallon Armstrong. One significant problem is that it makes students less likely to seek out continued education, whether it's to pursue a career in the trades or enrol in university or college. She also claimed systemic racism that persists through the country leaves Indigenous students even less likely to venture out of their communities in search of further education. 

"They're a bit nervous," she said. "They're scared, and I don't blame them. With everything that's going on out there SA国际影视传媒� the social issues, the missing persons, the racism SA国际影视传媒� you can't blame them." 

Shauna Morgan, MLA for Yellowknife North, is largely in agreement with Weyallon Armstrong. While she acknowledged that she doesn't have "any firsthand experience with education in small communities" herself, she contends "itSA国际影视传媒檚 clear that education operates significantly differently than it does in Yellowknife or southern cities."

"Small, rural schools with one teacher in charge of multiple grades and much smaller class sizes could provide both opportunities for more one-on-one support, but also significant challenges," she said. "In many cases there is significant turnover of teachers and challenges with teachers who are often from the outside becoming familiar with the local culture and community dynamics. Education is also tangled up with a violent colonial history of residential schools, so families may distrust the education system and attendance is often very poor."

Morgan believes Education, Culture and Employment Minister Caitlin Cleveland "takes the problem seriously," but added that "there are no obvious, simple solutions to fix it SA国际影视传媒� at least no quick fixes, and no one size fits all solution that will work for all communities."

She agreed with Weyallon Armstrong that one important element of the solution will be ensuring that schools in small communities are adequately staffed, and given access to education specialists as needed. 

"More specialized supports are needed both for exceptional students who need enrichment options, and for students who may be struggling, such as speech language pathologists, supports for learning disabilities, diagnosis and support for hearing and visual problems, and in-school counselling for students with mental health challenges," she said. "We have to find creative ways to ensure that specialists are visiting small communities on a regular basis to see students."

Whatever strategies are implemented, Weyallon Armstrong believes the GNWT must "make education a priority, for all the students in the Northwest Territories, not just the larger regional centres.SA国际影视传媒�

There is an immense amount of talent and potential among students in the NWT's small communities, she contends, and it must be given the opportunity to blossom.

Morgan again agreed.

"Our children and youth all across the Northwest Territories carry incredible potential and we have no right to give up on them," she said.