Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart is disappointed a foundational review of Aurora College will not be complete by this fall, as originally promised. On March 6, Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses announced an independent review of the college was being undertaken to direct the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 long-term vision for the institution. Moses said the review would be finished by fall 2017 and implemented in the 2018-19 school year.

But the contract for the work is still in the process of being awarded. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 fairly disappointing, to put it mildly, that this review is delayed,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart.

According to a request for proposals (RFP) for the review, the contract term is from approximately July to December 2017, with SA国际影视传媒渘o option to extend this contract once dates are agreed upon.SA国际影视传媒�

The RFP closed July 31, with three bidders applying for the job: MNP LLP, Deloitte Inc. and Higher Education Strategy Associates.

Until the review is complete, admissions to the collegeSA国际影视传媒檚 social work and teacher education programs are on hold SA国际影视传媒� a decision that came this March after regular MLAs lashed back against looming financial cuts threatening to end the two programs.

The foundational review is intended to examine the collegeSA国际影视传媒檚 governance and operation structure, making sure programs are run effectively and meet labour market needs, states the RFP.

A 10-year strategic plan for the college that was already underway will now SA国际影视传媒渂e folded into the foundational review,SA国际影视传媒� Moses stated in March.

Testart said while some programs at Aurora College have been successful, the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 performance has been lagging in recent years. He said the college needs to provide comprehensive education programs that result in degrees if it wants to prepare Northerners for jobs.

SA国际影视传媒淭he longer we wait to do this, the more difficult itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be to make those changes because it will take additional resources,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

However, not everyone agrees on what direction the college should take.

SA国际影视传媒淭here continues to be this kind of back and forth as to what Aurora College should be,SA国际影视传媒� said Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of talk in certain areas of the territory about wanting to advance a university in the Northwest Territories and there are those that believe Aurora College needs to be that university.SA国际影视传媒�

But Vanthuyne said he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the school was ever intended for.

Rather, the college was developed to advance residentsSA国际影视传媒� skills and support local hiring, he said.

Hay River North MLA R.J. SimpsonSA国际影视传媒檚 concern is that not enough attention is paid to other educational hubs in the NWT SA国际影视传媒� particularly community learning centres.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think they are one of the keys to the future prosperity of the territory,SA国际影视传媒� he said, explaining the people who work there have the best understanding of what is needed on the ground. SA国际影视传媒淭here are people in the communities who need help getting into the job market.SA国际影视传媒�

Simpson said the current governance structure at the college has not allowed the community learning centres to SA国际影视传媒渋nnovate.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 why this foundational review is important,SA国际影视传媒� Simpson said. SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檝e got to look at the whole SA国际影视传媒楬ow do we view post-secondary in the territory?SA国际影视传媒� Aurora College is a big part of that, obviously, but it might not be the only part.SA国际影视传媒�

Testart said he worries the ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 dismissal of Aurora CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 board of governors in June will give the education department SA国际影视传媒渇ree reign to make cuts where it sees necessary, rather than to support the programs that are working and the students that are currently enrolled in those programs.SA国际影视传媒�

But Simpson said he is pleased to see the RFP calls for engagement with aboriginal governments, friendship centres, college students, the Northern Farm Training Institute, the NWT Association of Communities, NWT Chamber of Commerce and others.

Vanthuyne is hopeful the foundational review will settle the debate about what Aurora College should be so it can begin serving those needs best.

SA国际影视传媒淲e can all throw pie at the government for delays, I suppose, but I want to make sure that weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting this right,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Yellowknifer requested an interview with a representative from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, but an interview was not granted.
Kelly Mahoney, senior policy advisor with the department, told Yellowknifer via email an announcement would be made when the contract is awarded.