The school year is underway across the territory and the Department of Education is still racing to fill 56.5 positions.

Nunavut has a teacher recruitment issue and itSA国际影视传媒檚 worse than in the rest of the country because of the low teacher retention rate, according to John Fanjoy, president of the Nunavut TeachersSA国际影视传媒� Association.

An increase in violence in the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 schools, stressful workloads and covering for vacant positions that the Department of Education hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been able to fill are contributing factors to the recruitment and retention problem, said Fanjoy.

The department should stop studying the issue by spending money on consultants from outside Nunavut and instead SA国际影视传媒渄esperately needs to start listening to the educators who are here,SA国际影视传媒� Fanjoy said.

SA国际影视传媒淎ttendance at job fairs in southern universities is not going to make up for our shortage of qualified Inuit educators,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 time to look within to see what the pressing issues are, and what priorities need to be addressed to maintain current staff and promote and support the profession of teaching in Nunavut, which would alleviate the need for teacher recruitment.SA国际影视传媒�

Asked to elaborate on increasing violence in schools, Fanjoy said his comments are based on first-hand accounts from teachers and community members. Associated statistics have not been kept to date but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 about to change, he said. The teachersSA国际影视传媒� association is working with the Department of Education on a joint Safe Schools and Anti-Violence Committee that will be tasked with devising violence reduction strategies in schools. There will also be a related incident reporting and a data compilation system, he noted.

The greatest need for teachers is in the Qikiqtani region, which had 43.5 positions yet to be filled as of Sept. 3. There were 11 vacancies in the Kitikmeot and two in the Kivalliq, stated Tracey MacMillan, assistant deputy minister with the Department of Education.

The facilities with the biggest shortfall of teachers are Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay and Arnaqjuaq School in Hall Beach, both with 4.5 vacancies. Quluaq School in Clyde River requires 3.5 educators while Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay is lacking three teachers.

The majority of new hires for the Qikiqtani region come from Ontario and Nunavut, while most new staff in the Kivalliq relocate from Ontario and British Columbia and the bulk of the KitikmeotSA国际影视传媒檚 fresh hires are attracted from Ontario, according to MacMillan.

A total of 15.5 teaching positions ultimately remained unfilled during the 2018-19 school year.

Coping strategies used when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a dearth of teachers include hiring substitutes; having existing staff complete their work after students are dismissed for the day; and modifying teachersSA国际影视传媒� schedules to meet student needs and programming requirements, said MacMillan.

Prior to resorting to cancelling classes, principals are instructed to switch to teaching duties as are vice-principals, student support teachers and learning coaches. That means those individuals must complete their regular duties after school hours, MacMillan explained.

Other actions taken to prevent the cancellation of classes include moving students into different classes or combining multiple classes under one teacher and adjusting the staff-only dates in the school calendar to reduce the dates students are missing classes, MacMillan added.

Fact file
Inuit teachers in Nunavut elementary and secondary schools

Qikiqtani region
Apex, Nanook School SA国际影视传媒� 3
Arctic Bay, Inuujaq School SA国际影视传媒� 12
Cape Dorset, Sam Pudlat School SA国际影视传媒� 6
Cape Dorset, Peter Pitseolak School SA国际影视传媒� 2
Clyde River, Quluaq School SA国际影视传媒� 14
Grise Fiord, Ummimak School SA国际影视传媒� 3
Hall Beach, Arnaqjuaq School SA国际影视传媒� 10
Iglulik, Ataguttaaluk Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� 13
Iglulik, Ataguttaaluk High School SA国际影视传媒� 2
Iqaluit, Aqsarniit School SA国际影视传媒� 4
Iqaluit, Inuksuk High School SA国际影视传媒� 4
Iqaluit, Joamie School SA国际影视传媒� 4
Iqaluit, Nakasuk School SA国际影视传媒� 6
Kimmirut, Qaqqalik School SA国际影视传媒� 4
Pangnirtung, Alookie School SA国际影视传媒� 13
Pangnirtung, Attagoyuk School SA国际影视传媒� 6
Pond Inlet, Nasivvik School SA国际影视传媒� 5
Pond Inlet, Ulaayuk School SA国际影视传媒� 12
Qikiqtarjuaq, Inuksuit School SA国际影视传媒� 6
Resolute Bay, Qarmartalik School SA国际影视传媒� 2
Sanikiluaq, Nuiyak School SA国际影视传媒� 8
Sanikiluaq, Paatsaali School SA国际影视传媒� 5

Kivalliq region
Arviat, Levi Angmak Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� 7
Arviat, Qitiqliq Middle School SA国际影视传媒� 3
Arviat, John Arnalukjuak High School SA国际影视传媒� 2
Baker Lake, Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School SA国际影视传媒� 1
Baker Lake, Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� 0
Chesterfield Inlet, Victor Sammurtok School SA国际影视传媒� 0
Coral Harbour, Sakku School SA国际影视传媒� 0
Naujaat, Tuugaalik High School SA国际影视传媒� 0
Naujaat, Tusarvik Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� 1
Rankin Inlet, Simon Alaittuq School SA国际影视传媒� 1
Rankin Inlet, Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik SA国际影视传媒� 1
Rankin Inlet, Leo Ussak Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� 1
Whale Cove, Inuglak School SA国际影视传媒� 1

Kitikmeot region
Cambridge Bay, Kiilinik High School SA国际影视传媒� 5
Cambridge Bay, Kullik Ilihakvik SA国际影视传媒� 3
Gjoa Haven, Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik SA国际影视传媒� 4
Gjoa Haven, Quqshuun Ilihakvik SA国际影视传媒� 10
Kugaaruk, Arviligruaq Illiniarvik SA国际影视传媒� 12
Kugluktuk, Kugluktuk High School SA国际影视传媒� 5
Kugluktuk, Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik SA国际影视传媒� 1
Taloyoak, Netsilik Ilihakvik SA国际影视传媒� 13
Source: Department of Education