Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson spoke with education leaders to discuss the NWT response to Alberta Education’s recent decision to make diploma exams optional for the 2020-2021 school year. After close consideration of the needs of NWT students and communities, as well as the operational realities of NWT schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has decided to make diploma exams optional for NWT students.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Minister’s Culture and Heritage Awards. The awards recognize the efforts of members of the community who work to strengthen the arts, culture, heritage and languages of the Northwest Territories.  Recipients are chosen from nominations put forward by other northerners in five different categories.

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Education Leaders met via teleconference with Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson and the NWT Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) on October 28, 2020 to discuss improving student outcomes in the territory.

Today the Department of Education, Culture and Employment announced the official launch of the Our Languages JK-12 Indigenous languages curriculum. 

Our Languages is a competency-based curriculum that provides Indigenous language instructors with curricular outcomes, instructional strategies, and assessment tools to foster language growth in classrooms. It promotes a whole-school approach to language learning to ensure that Indigenous languages are heard and spoken throughout schools, at assemblies, and during routines and in all Northwest Territories classrooms.

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Mr. Speaker, today the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is celebrating the official launch of the Our Languages curriculum. This launch marks an important milestone for Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories.

Today the Government of the Northwest Territories released the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) and the initial areas of teaching and research specialization for the polytechnic university.  The Implementation Plan outlines the path towards the establishment of a polytechnic university that will support the aspirations of Northerners, diversify the economy, and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, I am excited to announce that today, the Government of the Northwest Territories is releasing the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan and the Initial Areas of Teaching and Research Specialization for the polytechnic university. These foundational documents, along with input from our residents and partners, will help guide the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university and beyond over the next six years.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce the continuation of supports for the NWT’s most vulnerable residents in obtaining general identification cards (GIC).

In 2017, the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and Infrastructure (INF) partnered on a two-year pilot project to help Income Assistance (IA) applicants obtain GICs by waiving fees for approved IA applicants. 

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is currently closed to the public due to an unforeseen incident related to maintenance being performed on the water main.

Work is currently underway to clean up water which leaked into the basement and restore plumbing services to the facility. The Museum will remain closed to the public over the weekend and re-open for regular visitation hours on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.  

For all Media Requests, please contact:

Jaimee Kepa

Government of the Northwest Territories