GNWT releases report on potential impacts of COVID-19 on JK-12 education system
Press Release
October 31, 2022
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a report that provides insight into the ways the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected student success and the education system in the Northwest Territories (NWT).
Since March 2020, there has been significant disruption to educational instruction around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of its regular data collection, the department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) measures a number of Junior Kindergarten (JK) to Grade 12 student outcomes, which can provide potential insight into the impacts of COVID-19 on the education system. These include annual developmental surveys completed by Kindergarten, Grade 4 and Grade 7 students, high school graduation rates, school closure data, and the number of NWT educators.
The pandemic was a significant disrupter to the education system as a whole. The shift to remote learning, the limitations to connect with one’s community and engage in after-school programming has had a negative impact on the well-being and academic experiences for many students. Further research will be required to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the impact of the pandemic on the education system.
In addition to the indicators noted in the report, ECE will closely monitor the needs of NWT students using existing wellness data, referrals for school-based mental health and wellness services, academic progress reports provided by education bodies, attendance rates, etc.
While there is not a single solution to the challenges students may face, ECE provides a multitude of resources and programs that can help, which can be found here.
Quote(s)
“The pandemic has created unprecedented disruption in every sector of society in ways that aren’t fully clear to us yet. The GNWT is continuing to work to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on learning and ensure our students are supported. As we access more data over the next few years, further analysis will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts the pandemic had on our education system and students, and how we can continue to support them.”
– R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
Quick facts
- In the NWT, the impacts of school closures and remote learning vary from community to community and from school to school.
- In the 2019-20 school year, students pivoted to remote learning for 30% of the school year.
- 2020-21 saw significant impacts on Grade 7-12 students, with more stringent isolation and health and safety requirements.
- The 2021-2022 school year saw an easing of restrictions; however, based on the various short-term school closures, this was likely the most interrupted school year for many students, with some schools in remote learning for 13% of the school year and others up to 40%.
- ECE continues to work with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), which is an intergovernmental body that consults and cooperates with various governments and education organizations on topics such as these.
Related links
For media requests, please contact:
Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca
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