Amendments to the Education Act have come into force today, with the aim of providing a more modern and accountable education system in the NWT.
These amendments, made under Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, are an important milestone towards the Legislative Assembly’s goal of modernizing education in the territory.
“By recognizing the important role of Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations and Indigenous peoples, and strengthening legislative tools that support student success, the amendments will help ensure the education system meets the needs of students, families, and communities across the territory,” said Minister Caitlin Cleveland.
Some of the changes include changing language in the act that recognizes the role of Indigenous governments in education, improved access to student information to allow easier monitoring of student progress, and allowing the Minister to establish oversight committees to support improvements in education.
As part of this bill, the GNWT’s Student Records Regulations, Academic Year and School Attendance Regulations, and Education Staff Regulations were all also updated.
The GNWT says the next steps towards education modernization will be continuing discussions with Indigenous governments and other education partners on the future of the NWT’s education system.
The full bill, with all amendments, can be found here.
