School Is Set to Begin This Week
With the new school year set to begin over the next few days, the Nunavut Teachers Association in Canada worries that the education department won’t be able to hire enough teachers in time for classes to begin. Communities like Cambridge Bay, Arctic Bay, Kinnagait, Igloolik, and Naujaat still have multiple positions unfilled, and teachers and students in 10 districts are set to start as soon as August 15th, according to the territorial school calendar from the Government of Nunavut’s education department.
Justin Matchett, president of the Nunavut Teachers Association, estimated that over 100 teachers decided not to return to the territory for the upcoming school year. That works out to roughly 1 in every six teachers that did not return.
Although there are plenty of positions available in southern Canada, where the cost of living is relatively lower, Matchett does not believe that the shift away from Nunavut is primarily due to money. A new contract was just signed earlier this year that saw teachers in Nunavut receive a 7% raise over four years, with salaries ranging up to $124’807 annually.
According to Matchett, a critical component affecting teacher retention is the lack of housing across the territory. Many communities have begun requesting that teachers share accommodation. Matchett pointed out that living in isolated communities and working and living all day with the same person can easily create stress and strained relations between faculty members.
According to the provincial government, educator vacancies vary every day. As of July 26th, the Qikiqtani region lacked 73.5 positions, the Kivalliq region lacked 28, and the Kitikmeot region lacked 12. By August 2nd, the number of vacant posts in Kivalliq fell to 23, according to Sandi Chan, the acting manager for communications.
However, there are still many vacancies in Kivalliq. For example, in Naujaat, six positions are still listed with vacancies, including high school teachers for required courses like English and Math. The government and local schools have begun looking into ulterior options that might negatively affect the students' overall learning experience.
Last Resort Plans Being Set in Place
For more information on how the housing crisis has affected teacher retention in Nunavut and how the territory plans to handle the issue, go to CBC.ca:
“If vacant teaching positions aren't filled soon, teachers in some communities could be asked to teach one grade and then another on a rotational basis. Districts could also see teachers without qualifications hired on letters of authority.
‘It's pretty scary right now,’ Matchett said of the uncertain view ahead.
The Education department was not able to respond this week to requests for more information about retention issues.”
From Housing Crisis Is A Factor In Nunavut Teacher Shortage - CBC
Photo Source: MCHE LEE via Unsplash
Do you know anybody that taught in Nunavut and left recently? Or anyone planning on teaching there in the upcoming school year?
Written by S2A Modular & Associates Inc.
August 5th, 2022