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The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is working to modernize the Education Act. Education Act modernization is one part of the Government’s work to increase student education outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) held an initial 3.5-month public engagement period to hear from residents about how the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) education system can best meet the needs of students across the Northwest Territories.
ECE published a What We Heard Report reflecting its first round of public engagement from March to June 2021.
ECE is in the early stages of the process to modernize the Education Act. Based on what we heard so far, the Department has established a two-phased approach toward Education Act modernization, which will see continued engagement and collaboration with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public. Read more under Next Steps.
Have Your Say
This engagement period has now closed.
NWT residents were able to participate in this conversation from March to June 2021 by completing surveys, emailing ECE their views, speaking one-on-one with ECE staff, and participating in virtual town hall meetings.
The views and opinions of current and former students, parents, Elders, Indigenous governments and organizations, education staff and administrators, communities, and the public are critical for ECE to build the values, expectations and opportunities of NWT residents into a 21st century education system. ECE thanks everyone who participated in this conversation and shared their experiences with the current education system, and ideas on how to improve it.
Results
Over the first round of public engagements, hundreds of people provided their ideas and views about the education system and the future of the Education Act.
584 surveys were completed.
ECE held 40 online meetings with a combination of Indigenous governments, educators and education administrators, graduates of the JK-12 system, and members of the public.
ECE also received written submissions from organizations and residents throughout the territory who wanted to have their views heard.
ECE analyzed participants’ feedback and summarized them in a What We Heard Report
ECE heard from Northerners about the need to:
further involve, enable and empower Indigenous and local community governments to take part in decision-making about the future of education;
take meaningful and urgent action to foster and revitalize Indigenous languages;
continue conversations around how education resources are deployed and how programs are developed and implemented; and
not rush the process of Education Act modernization.
Next Steps
Based on what we heard, ECE is establishing a two-phased approach for next steps toward Education Act modernization.
Phase 1: ECE will develop a legislative proposal during the life of the 19th Legislative Assembly that addresses some of the operational and technical challenges of the current education system, such as conflicting authorities and timely Ministerial access to information about student outcomes. Phase 1 will address issues that were acknowledged as needing immediate attention or received no significant comments of concern during the engagement period, and that have been identified during past audits by the Office of the Auditor General as impeding the ability of the current education system to improve student outcomes.
Phase 2: ECE will continue collaborating with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public about the future of the NWT’s education system structure and governance. We heard clearly during the first round of engagement that more conversation and collaboration is needed about how Indigenous governments and communities across the NWT can meaningfully lead and participate in the governance of a system that is educating future generations. Phase 2 will take time, and work will continue beyond the 19th Legislative Assembly so that we can develop and build a modern education system in the NWT.
The process to modernize the Education Act is a multi-step and multi-year process. The steps for this process are seen above.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is working to modernize the Education Act. Education Act modernization is one part of the Government’s work to increase student education outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) held an initial 3.5-month public engagement period to hear from residents about how the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) education system can best meet the needs of students across the Northwest Territories.
ECE published a What We Heard Report reflecting its first round of public engagement from March to June 2021.
ECE is in the early stages of the process to modernize the Education Act. Based on what we heard so far, the Department has established a two-phased approach toward Education Act modernization, which will see continued engagement and collaboration with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public. Read more under Next Steps.
Have Your Say
This engagement period has now closed.
NWT residents were able to participate in this conversation from March to June 2021 by completing surveys, emailing ECE their views, speaking one-on-one with ECE staff, and participating in virtual town hall meetings.
The views and opinions of current and former students, parents, Elders, Indigenous governments and organizations, education staff and administrators, communities, and the public are critical for ECE to build the values, expectations and opportunities of NWT residents into a 21st century education system. ECE thanks everyone who participated in this conversation and shared their experiences with the current education system, and ideas on how to improve it.
Results
Over the first round of public engagements, hundreds of people provided their ideas and views about the education system and the future of the Education Act.
584 surveys were completed.
ECE held 40 online meetings with a combination of Indigenous governments, educators and education administrators, graduates of the JK-12 system, and members of the public.
ECE also received written submissions from organizations and residents throughout the territory who wanted to have their views heard.
ECE analyzed participants’ feedback and summarized them in a What We Heard Report
ECE heard from Northerners about the need to:
further involve, enable and empower Indigenous and local community governments to take part in decision-making about the future of education;
take meaningful and urgent action to foster and revitalize Indigenous languages;
continue conversations around how education resources are deployed and how programs are developed and implemented; and
not rush the process of Education Act modernization.
Next Steps
Based on what we heard, ECE is establishing a two-phased approach for next steps toward Education Act modernization.
Phase 1: ECE will develop a legislative proposal during the life of the 19th Legislative Assembly that addresses some of the operational and technical challenges of the current education system, such as conflicting authorities and timely Ministerial access to information about student outcomes. Phase 1 will address issues that were acknowledged as needing immediate attention or received no significant comments of concern during the engagement period, and that have been identified during past audits by the Office of the Auditor General as impeding the ability of the current education system to improve student outcomes.
Phase 2: ECE will continue collaborating with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public about the future of the NWT’s education system structure and governance. We heard clearly during the first round of engagement that more conversation and collaboration is needed about how Indigenous governments and communities across the NWT can meaningfully lead and participate in the governance of a system that is educating future generations. Phase 2 will take time, and work will continue beyond the 19th Legislative Assembly so that we can develop and build a modern education system in the NWT.
The process to modernize the Education Act is a multi-step and multi-year process. The steps for this process are seen above.
Status
Open
Education Act Modernization has finished this stage
Engagement feedback from March 15, 2021 to June 30, 2021
Under Review
Education Act Modernization is currently at this stage
Completed
this is an upcoming stage for Education Act Modernization
