Nunavut education review ponders role of DEAs

Members of a special legislative committee have a lot to think about as they prepare their final report on the Nunavut Education Act.

Over two days, the committee heard from four organizations and four individuals who each provided a different perspective on how to improve the education system.

A common theme was the role of District Education Authorities. Devolving power to locally-elected committees in each communitywas a hallmark of the 2009 Education Act.

Now the education department wants to take back some of the control over policies. In her opening statement, Deputy Minister Kathy Okpik said the role could be re-evaluated as it relates to bilingual education, inclusive education and human resources.

Overwhelmed, ineffective

Education Minister Paul Quassa told the committee that DEAs are all at different levels when it comes to knowing the rules and regulations, witha quarter of them not fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. He expressed concern that local school authorities feltoverloaded with work.

James Arreak, CEO of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., said volunteer DEA members are committed, but overwhelmed.

"It's a challenging task for the DEAs to even reach that level of functionality and thus makes them very ineffective in what they should be doing."

The Coalition of DEAsown research came to the same conclusion.

Nikki Eegeesiak, who works with the Coalition of DEAs, said her group's research found there was a 43 per cent increase in workload when the Education Act was introduced in 2009, without extra funding or resources to take on that work.

Return to regional boards?

MLA Pat Angnakak, a member of the education review committee, says some DEAs have told the committee theywant to see a return of the regional boards of education, which were dismantled in 2000.

"Trust with Inuit parents has been eroding ever since," said NTI's Arreak.

Natan Obed, with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., said community control is a fundamental objective in education and Nunavut falls short.

The special committee is compiling a report to table in the Nunavut legislature.