A recent report prepared for the Government of Yukon has called for a reform of the territory’s education department. The independent panel that produced the report found a variety of issues across four main areas: norms and culture within the department; relationships and communication between the department and schools; organizational structures in the department; and accountability. The First Nation School Board and the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate spoke to APTN News about how they hope a new report will lead to positive change. “It’s really affirming, what we heard from the review,” said FNSB Executive Director Melissa Flynn. “I think across the Yukon […] the challenges had been very similar, and I think there is a lot of people that are thrilled to see the recommendations that this review panel put forward.” YFNED Executive Director Melanie Bennett pointed to the report’s recommendations around making education more inclusive, stating that these “are actually actionable, quick-moving things that can be done to really bring out the voice of the Indigenous children.” The panel is expected to complete its final review and release its final report in December.
