NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Education leaders meet with Minister Simpson for final meeting of 2022-23 school year

Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson met with Northwest Territories (NWT) education leaders on June 14, for their final meeting of the 2022-23 school year.

Minister Simpson opened the in-person meeting with updates on ECE initiatives, including a presentation from a delegate with the Minister's Youth Forum on Education. Vincent Gagne, a student from École Allain St-Cyr, presented a pitch he developed to create a French Association for youth across the NWT.

The Deputy Minister of ECE provided an update on legislation in the works, including amendments to the Official Languages Act, which received approval in March. The Child Day Care Act amendments came into force in May, and the Minister and education leaders discussed the potential of education bodies working with licensed Early Learning and Child Care programs to explore delivering programs directly in schools and/or other locations. Modernizing the Education Act is also still in progress; the first phase of amendments, proposed in Bill 81, are undergoing Standing Committee review and there are opportunities for public feedback. Education bodies were assured that, should the Bill receive assent, any later development of regulations will be made in consultation with them.

Health and Social Services Minister Julie Green joined Minister Simpson to provide education leaders with a joint update on the Child and Youth Counselling (CYC) program. The GNWT has been reviewing the initiative to ensure mental health and wellness programs and services are meeting the needs of all NWT students, youth and families. The GNWT will provide updates to education bodies and Health and Social Services staff on any proposed changes to the initiative going forward.

In addition, ECE presented status reports on:

• Action Plan to Improve Student Outcomes: Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been great strides during the 19th Legislative Assembly in actioning the majority of items in the Action Plan. These actions focus on quality early learning and child care, through to supporting a rigorous, modern Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) education system.
• JK-12 Curriculum Renewal: Implementation and trialing of the new, adapted curriculum is on track, with three of five major steps now completed and the final two (releasing the adapted curriculum and updating student assessment tools) planned for the coming months.
• Early Learning and Child Care: Updates on the work associated with implementation of the 2030 Early Learning and Child Care Strategy, federal agreements, and associated merged action plan were shared, including the funding available to support the establishment and operating costs for licensed programs.

As this will be the last meeting of education body leaders and Minister Simpson during the 19th Legislative Assembly, leaders also shared key education issues to inform the next government.

Quotes

"It has truly been a pleasure to work with NWT education leaders over the last four years. They have tackled many challenges, embraced change, celebrated accomplishments and continue to show immeasurable leadership and dedication to our communities, schools, students and educators. I thank them for their collaboration. I am proud of the work we have all achieved, and the many exciting initiatives to look forward to in NWT education."

- R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

"We thank Minister Simpson for his leadership during the 19th Legislative Assembly. We appreciate that our voices, concerns and questions have been heard, and to have the opportunity to present key issues for the next Legislative Assembly."

- Renalyn Pascua-Matte, Chair, Dehcho Divisional Education Council