Nunavik's first in-region university program aims to recruit more teachers

Nunavik will soon have its first full-time university program delivered in the region — and it's for aspiring teachers. 

The region's school board, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (KI), has received new funding from the province to launch a certificate in education for First Nations and Inuit, in partnership with McGill University. 

Harriet Keleutak, KI's director general, said their aim is to bring more Inuktut teachers on board.

"Every year we're missing 20-plus Inuit teachers, meaning some of our classes are closed most of the time, even though we try to recruit as much as we can," she said. 

Currently, most teachers do part-time training on-the-job, and that's exclusive to current Kativik Ilisarniliriniq employees. That process can take up to seven years.

"That leads to a high turnover because the training is taking too long before they can get their skills," Keleutak said.

This new full-time course, starting September 2 in Kuujjuaq, will take two years and is open to all beneficiaries of Nunavik. 

Last month, the school board partnered with Montreal's John Abbott College to bring some 10-day post-secondary courses to the region.

There is currently no college or university campus located in Nunavik. In contrast, all three territories and Labrador have at least one post-secondary institution. Under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, KI doesn't have the administrative jurisdiction to provide post-secondary education by itself.

Through her conversations with Quebec's Education Ministry and Makivvik, Keleutak said she's hopeful that a post-secondary institution could be possible in the next decade.