Yellowknife — March 25, 2021
Elected education leaders from across the Northwest Territories (NWT) met today with Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), the Honourable R.J. Simpson, to discuss their joint work to further strengthen the territory’s Junior Kindergarten (JK) to Grade 12 education system.
Education leaders meet multiple times a year to review current work and to plan for future initiatives in NWT education. Minister Simpson opened the virtual meeting today by expressing his sincere appreciation for the strength of the relationships among elected education leaders across the territory. Such strong relationships have been essential and supportive to the urgent work completed during the pandemic to safely and successfully re-open and sustain JK to 12 education operations for students, teachers, and families across the territory.
As key stakeholders in all matters of education change and renewal, education leaders participated in an initial engagement presentation and discussion regarding the Education Act Modernization (EAM). This presentation centered on a review of the four major components of the discussion paper on EAM, specifically:
- education system and structure;
- language and culture;
- education program; and
- education staff.
Education leaders also reviewed initial research findings on the renewal of JK-12 curriculum. This engagement work will actively involve Indigenous Governments and stakeholder groups. Such significant work will strengthen NWT education and modernize its curriculum, ensuring it aligns with the NWT’s priorities and values for education.
The meeting concluded with both Minister Simpson and Simon Cloutier, Chair of Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, thanking all education leaders for their time, input, and questions during the productive meeting.
The next meeting of education leaders with Minister Simpson is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
Quick facts:
- The GNWT is working to modernize the Education Act in an effort to increase student outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada, and to close the gap in student outcomes that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, and between students in Yellowknife and smaller communities.
- ECE regularly reviews its curriculum and resources to ensure they align with the NWT’s priorities and values for education.
- The NWT currently uses a mix of curriculum that is either adapted or adopted from other jurisdictions in Canada, or is created in the NWT for JK-12.
- Much of the NWT curriculum is Alberta’s, especially at the high school level, though ECE also draws on parts of its curriculum from other Western Canadian provinces.
- To participate in the modernization of the NWT Education Act please click here: Have Your Say – Education Act Modernization.
Quotes
“I am pleased with the important and productive discussions we had today with education leaders across the territory as we continue working towards equitable education for all students of the NWT. The changes we make together to the Education Act and our JK-12 curriculum are vital to the strength and future of education in the territory.”
-R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
“All NWT education leaders thank their district and school staff for their dedication in safely and successfully reopening schools and ensuring JK-12 education operations throughout the pandemic. The education leaders are also actively engaged in the Education Act modernization, and in the JK-12 curriculum renewal work, to ensure it reflects NWT priorities and values for education. This important work will have a positive outcome on education in the NWT for years to come.”
-Simon Cloutier, Chair, Commission scolaire francophone Territoires du Nord-Ouest
For more information contact:
Simon Cloutier
Commission scolaire francophone Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Christina Carrigan
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
Department of Education, Culture and Employment