The Government of Yukon is committed to ensuring schools are safe and inclusive environments for all students. The Government of Yukon recently provided a six-month progress report to the Yukon Ombudsman related to the recommendations provided by that office in February 2024.
Over the past year, significant steps have been made to strengthen policies, enhance training and improve school infrastructure to support students across the territory, including:
- Student Protection Policy training;
- Ready-to-Learn Schools implementation;
- Reimagining Inclusive and Special Education (RISE);
- support for 2SLGBTDQIA+ students and staff; and
- investigation processes.
There is more information on these initiatives in the backgrounder accompanying this news release.
In addition to the policies listed above, the Department of Education has made significant steps to prepare for the 2024-25 school year, filling approximately 94 per cent of positions in Yukon Education schools for teachers, principals and vice principals prior to the beginning of the school year and realizing a 42 per cent increase in recruitment of teachers on call when compared to this time last year.
The Department of Education also recently hosted the first Welcome Week for Yukon Education Staff since the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing together 200 new educators for two days of orientation focused on educational practices to support student learning, overviews of departmental policies, the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms and role-specific learning for teachers, learning assistance teachers, educational assistants and Yukon First Nation Language teachers.
Across the board, the Government of Yukon continues to work with school communities to achieve the highest standards of safety and inclusivity in Yukon schools.
"Our government is committed to ensuring that students, families and staff feel safe, supported and valued in our schools. Nothing is more important to me, as Minister of Education, than the safety and wellbeing of students when they are in our care. The progress we've made to make students feel safe at school reflects our unwavering dedication to creating inclusive learning environments in schools across the Yukon. We'll continue to partner with stakeholders to refine policies and practices, provide necessary training and make infrastructure improvements to support the wellbeing of all Yukon students."
Minister of Education Jeanie McLean
