Program closure ill-advised move

One has to question why the government would choose to close the Northern Teacher Education Program and Northern Professional Access College (NORTEP/ NORPAC) at this point in time. The number of postings for teachers at the start of the 2017 school year is clear evidence that there is an ongoing shortage of teachers in the north. While funding from NORTEP was transferred by the government to Northlands College to offer a new bachelor of education program, enrolment in the Northlands College estimated that only 51 students had transferred from NORTEP/ NORPAC to Northlands College. In comparison, NORTEP/NORPAC had 164 students enrolled at the start of the 2016 academic year, 90 of whom were in the NORTEP program. In fact, in 2016, NORTEP/NORPAC had the largest student intake in its history.

NORTEP was started in 1976 as one solution to the chronic teacher shortage and lack of local Indigenous teachers in northern schools. In 41 years, NORTEP produced more than 480 northern teachers; most of these graduates chose to stay and teach in the north. With more teachers set to retire in the next few years, the closure of NORTEP could result in more teacher shortages in northern schools. While this change — undertaken by former ministers of Advanced Education Scott Moe and Bronwyn Eyre — has only saved $400,000, the cost to the north could be great. April Chief Calf, La Ronge