The suspended social work and education programs at Aurora College could be revived, says Education Minister Caroline Cochrane.
As well, previously offered programs such as addictions services and computer technology could be reinstated.
But that won't happen until the programs have been assessed to the standards of the foundational review.
“My commitment is to make sure we have quality programming for our students... there will be some hard choices but we have to look at where our strengths are and what our labour market focuses are,” said Cochrane. “The NWT is the second highest province/territory in Canada when it comes to addictions so it only makes sense we offer programming that centre's around correcting (addiction).”
The education minister's remarks were made in an open forum last Thursday. Close to 50 people – former students, faculty and residents – were at the Explorer Hotel.
Some called for the review committee to conduct a more in-depth look at the programs offered at the college, as well as ways to transition to a polytechnic university by as early as 2024.
Cochrane said it's impossible to bring the suspended programs back next year but said the social work and education programs could return as early as 2020-21 school year.
“Nothing in the review is set in stone yet,” said Cochrane at a previous meeting regarding the foundational review. “The only thing that is confirmed is, in consulting with the MLAs in the last session, is to move forward … to hire the administrator and start the evaluations of every program.”
In addition to bringing back the education and social work programs, one person in attendance said resurrecting programs aimed toward addictions services and computer technology should be looked into as they had no business being cut in the first place.
“One of the things this review has done is ignored the contributions of amazing people to building an education system in the NWT,” said a Fort Smith resident Don Jaque.
“With the way the report was worded. it is as if everything the college did was paltry, now let's build something good.”
Jaque added the review didn't directly address any issues, instead was very broad and attacked educators.
Jaque also pointed out education and social work are two of the more respected programs in the NWT as they provide Northern students a fast-track to employment. He said the decision to suspend them should be reviewed.
Cochrane agreed that students should be offered programs that could enhance the NWT workforce. She said her plan is to change the status quo.
“It would be a sin if the minister left the status quo in place, I would be embarrassed to be a resident of the NWT,” she said.
“If we don't look at the programs and see how to improve them we will never address the real problem ... maybe I'm a visionary but I want to remain a visionary.”
She added it's plausible that the programs could return in a few years after they have been assessed and improved according to the standards of the foundational review.
This was the third and final forum hosted by the GNWT Department of Education Culture and Employment. The first two were in Inuvik and Fort Smith.