Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), today launched the Postsecondary Education Visioning Survey and invites all residents of the NWT to participate in this important process.

The Government Response to the Aurora College Foundational Review committed to establishing a vision for postsecondary education in the NWT -- a common vision to guide future decision-making around education after high school.

Mr. Speaker, the transformational changes we have been making across the education system are gaining momentum to help fulfil this government’s mandate commitments towards education renewal.

Under the Skills 4 Success strategy, grades nine to 12 students and youth aged 18 to 24 across the North will soon have access to Career and Education Advisors. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has already hired six to work with students to help them navigate their best academic path from ‘classroom to career’.

Mr. Speaker, many factors impact a child’s life both negatively and positively.  As a parent, I understand some of the struggles parents face and as a Social Worker I adhere to the principle that all of us; (parents, family, friends, community members, and governments) have a role to play in ensuring children have the supports to succeed in life.

Mr. Speaker, we are making significant progress in meeting this government’s mandate commitments to strengthen the Northwest Territories postsecondary education system.

I am pleased to advise that the drafting of legislation to govern postsecondary education in the NWT is nearing completion. The proposed legislation will create, for the first time, a process to ensure the effective governance and quality assurance of all postsecondary institutions operating in the territory.

Premier Bob McLeod and Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment today announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Weegar as the Associate Deputy Minister of Postsecondary Education for the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

Mr. Speaker, when our connections to our languages and cultures are strong, our people are strong. Languages and culture play a crucial role in people’s daily lives, as tools for communication, education, social integration and development. Language, cultural history and traditions shape us as people.

 I will begin by announcing that upon recommendation of the official language boards, February has been declared the new Indigenous Languages Month in the Northwest Territories.

The Honourable Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), met with territorial education leaders on January 9, 2019 to continue discussion on improving the education system. Leaders from all regions of the Northwest Territories gathered to review progress to date and plan for future work.

The results from a geotechnical study contracted by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) on the École J.H. Sissons School site have been received. The study concluded that the original site, where the school currently stands, is the most viable and stable location for both current and future use. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), Caroline Cochrane, has accepted this recommendation. Both the recommendation and the decision have been conveyed to the board.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2018) – Minister of Education Culture and Employment Caroline Cochrane will hold a public meeting in Yellowknife to discuss the Government of the Northwest Territories response to the Aurora College Foundational Review. The meetings will give Yellowknife residents an opportunity to hear about next steps in the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university.