Unless the Department of Education has drafted revisions to the Education Act and Inuit Language Protection Act that are radically different than the last governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 failed Bill 37, Nunavummiut are in for a long and bumpy ride.
photo courtesy Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities
SA国际影视传媒淲e question if the Department of Education and the public have the same prioritiesSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the statement, in bold, upper-case letters, the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities repeatedly makes in its summary of consultations on the Education Act and Inuit Language Protection Act.
Three reports were released before the first reading, scheduled for June 4, of Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act: the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚, Nunavut Tungavik Inc.SA国际影视传媒檚 (NTI) and the coalitionSA国际影视传媒檚.
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The department, which organized the consultations, focused on four areas, three of which proved troublesome for the previous government: roles and responsibilities of the District Education Authorities (DEAs) and the Department of Education, bilingual education and language of instruction, and a proposed DEA council to replace the coalition.
The fourth item, Nunavut tailored transition regulations, refers to updating regulations adopted from the Northwest Territories. Currently, the Commissioner of Nunavut has the authority to make transitional regulations under the Act and the department would like to see that authority transferred to the minister of Education. The department reports this topic did not draw much discussion, and the coalition counted 13 statements.
As the coalition notes, overall, 11 per cent of statements were in response to department proposals, while 89 per cent focused on DEA and public concerns. In total, the coalition counted 974 statements across the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淒uring the consultations, Nunavummiut expressed concerns on issues that went beyond the proposals. Much of this feedback will guide the future direction of the Department of EducationSA国际影视传媒檚 policies, programs and planning,SA国际影视传媒� the department states in its report.
Summarized by the coalition, these include: the Nunavut Teacher Education Program, human resources and training, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and policies and facilities.
Department proposals donSA国际影视传媒檛 gain traction
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not surprising that many of the proposals the department presented did not impress. As both the coalition and NTI point out, amendments proposed in the previous governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 failed Bill 37 served as proposals during the 25-community consultations.
Read the Department of EducationSA国际影视传媒檚 proposals to amend the Education Act and Inuit Language Protection Act:
SA国际影视传媒淧eople were concerned that it appeared that Bill 37 was being repeated,SA国际影视传媒� states the coalition.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne participant exclaimed, SA国际影视传媒楾his is so discouraging. It took us over three hours to do up our written submission to Bill 37. CanSA国际影视传媒檛 you just take our previous submission and use it?'SA国际影视传媒�
In its report, the department acknowledges this disappointment.
SA国际影视传媒淥verall, Nunavummiut were happy with the effort to consult with every community. However, they were disappointed that many of the previously proposed amendments from the 2016 consultations were reintroduced,SA国际影视传媒� it states.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey feel students are not meeting the expected outcomes and worry too many are not speaking Inuktut. Many Nunavummiut indicated that financial resources should be quickly put in place to increase the number of Inuktut-speaking teachers and the number of teaching resources supporting Inuktut instruction.SA国际影视传媒�
As NTI notes in its report, much of the feedback that came out of the consultations echoes what it has stated for some years, as well as what was communicated via 40 written submissions by deadline in April 2017 from DEAs, Inuit organizations and individuals SA国际影视传媒� all but one criticizing Bill 37.
SA国际影视传媒淕iven the overwhelming lack of consensus in support of the bill in such areas as language of instruction, the role of District Education Authorities and increased employment of Inuit teachers, the standing committee is of the view that it should be allowed to fall off the order paper when the current assembly dissolves later this year,SA国际影视传媒� stated Tom Sammurtok, chairperson for the Standing Committee on Legislation, in May 2017.
Click here to read about the demise of Bill 37 in September 2017:
photo courtesy Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities
Roles and responsibilities, and a new council
On matters related to DEA powers, Nunavummiut do not want to see those diminished.
According to the coalition statistics, 75 statements were made across the territory indicating DEAs need to keep their current authorities. There were 65 statements about the negative impact of the proposed changes in roles and responsibilities.
SA国际影视传媒淒EAs and Nunavut Inuit expressed opposition to proposals which seek to concentrate authority with the minister,SA国际影视传媒� states NTI.
The department acknowledges the opposition.
The proposal for a new DEA council, rather than a coalition, did not go over that well. While the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 report uses vague language on this topic in terms of support, coalition numbers show 78 responses, but only nine were in favour of forming a new council.
In fact, 13 comments called for a return to divisional (also known as regional) school boards.
SA国际影视传媒淓ver since the school boards were removed DEAs have been trying to stay standing,SA国际影视传媒� said one participant, according to the coalition report.
SA国际影视传媒淏y far the largest group (69) simply supported the coalition and encouraged MLAs to keep this in mind,SA国际影视传媒� states the coalition.
Overall, people stressed the importance of properly resourcing and supporting DEAs.
photo courtesy Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities
Bilingual education and language of instruction
On the matter of bilingual Inuktut and French or English language of instruction, the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 proposal is to SA国际影视传媒渄evelop a clear plan of action to support the extension of bilingual education deadlines, based on the Department of EducationSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit Employment Plan (IEP) timelines.SA国际影视传媒�
However, as one attendee noted, SA国际影视传媒淵ou (Department of Education) say, donSA国际影视传媒檛 worry, we have an IEP plan and path to establishing targets, but we see no path, no plan, to develop and implement language and cultural programs.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭here were no responses from the public that supported extending the deadline to implement Inuktut teaching and learning. Many outlined to the DoE (Department of Education) the already poor state of Inuktitut,SA国际影视传媒� states the coalition.
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The Nunavut Teacher Education Program came up for discussion and, as the department notes, Nunavummiut stated they want the program reviewed and redesigned SA国际影视传媒� this because of the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 failure to adequately increase the number of Inuktut-speaking teachers.
However, a review of that program was initiated in early 2017, and has seemingly dropped off the radar. In February 2018, the department told Nunavut News it had the review in draft form and that it would be released once completed.
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Statements were also made indicating Nunavut Inuit are opposed to removing references to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) from the Education Act, reports NTI.
SA国际影视传媒淭he highest number of responses to any single issue was the opposition to the proposal to remove IQ from the Education Act,SA国际影视传媒� states the coalition.
SA国际影视传媒淔ifty people chose to speak to this issue on their own initiative. They underlined the importance of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit culture within the education system and in the governing legislation.SA国际影视传媒�
Next steps
Minister of Education David Joanasie will bring Bill 25 forward June 4 and June 5 for a first and second reading, after which, his department has indicated, a news conference will be held. The intention is to debate Bill 25 during the legislative assemblySA国际影视传媒檚 fall session in October.
The Department of Education concludes its consultation report by stating:
SA国际影视传媒淭he next challenge is to put forward a bill that best balances the interests of all Nunavummiut. Drafting this bill will require thoughtful analysis, careful planning and balanced decision-making. Nunavummiut will have further opportunities to give feedback once a bill is tabled in the legislative assembly in June 2019.SA国际影视传媒�
NTI president Aluki Kotierk encourages Nunavut Inuit SA国际影视传媒渢o get involved, ask questions and share your perspectives. Contact your MLA.SA国际影视传媒�
