Students and their wellbeing were the topic of discussion last week as Education Leaders met with Minister Caroline Cochrane in Yellowknife.
Cochrane made it known the students’ mental health and wellbeing was the focus of her mandate as the newly appointed Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Minister Cochrane and Health and Social Services Deputy Minister, Bruce Cooper, led a discussion on the next steps for the Child and Youth Care Counsellors initiative. Overall, 42 counsellors and seven clinical supervisors will be hired to work in schools and communities across the Northwest Territories. This will be phased in over the next four years.
Minister Cochrane says she feels her first discussion was a success.
“I enjoyed my first opportunity to meet with Board Chairs. The progress on initiatives we discussed today is encouraging. I look forward to working closely with the Chairs, particularly in the areas of wellness and Northern Distance Learning, to enable more of our students to be successful.”
The incoming new Career and Education Advisors were also discussed. The GNWT says the Advisors will be hired in the coming months and will work to support all NWT students.
Chairman of the Board for the YK1 School District, John Stephenson, issued a statement of behalf of the Education Leaders who attended the discussion. He echoed Minister Cochrane’s feelings on how the meeting went.
“Board Chairs appreciated the time today to meet with Minister Cochrane to engage in a discussion about the future of education in the North. Our conversations were informative and productive and Education Leaders look forward to collaborating with the Minister to improve education of students in our care.”
