Sanikiluaq students miss exam due to bureaucratic error

Students at the new Paatsaali High School in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut,were not able to write their departmental English exams last month because of a glitch in the system.

"I was very concerned to learn that a number of Sanikiluaq's high school studentsstudents who are looking forward to graduating and some even hoping to go on to post-secondary studies may now have their dreams delayed due to a bureaucratic error," said Allan Rumbolt, MLA for Sanikiluaq, in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Premier Eva Aariak, who is also the minister of Education, said the initial request to Alberta for exams for the new Sanikiluaq school was rejected because the school had not been assigned a code.

"The department updated the list with the new school and its code prior to when the exams were to be written," she said. "It was our understanding that the new code was received, but looking at the reality, I guess unfortunately, the exams did not arrive on time."

She said Nunavuts registrar for student records was notified two days after the test was to be written that the Sanikiluaq school hadnt received its exams.

Aariak said the department will review the school lists and codes to ensure they are accurate and remind schools to confirm receipt of exams at least a week before the date of the test.

Sanikiluaqs high school students will now have to wait until the next testing date in June to write their departmental exams.