New figures from the Government of Nunavut show the territory is still facing teaching shortages, with Naujaat and Whale Cove experiencing the most vacancies.
Nunavut had filled 79 per cent of its teaching positions as of Aug. 22, according to the Department of Education.
But where students live in Nunavut greatly affects how much of a teaching shortage their school is enduring.
Tuugaalik High School in Naujaat has the territory’s worst teaching shortage, with 52 per cent of teaching positions unfilled.
Inuglak School in Whale Cove has a 47 per cent vacancy rate while Kinngait’s Peter Pitseolak School stood at 37 per cent.
The Qikiqtani has the smallest teaching shortage among the three regions, with Kitikmeot in the middle of the pack and the Kivalliq region contending with the highest vacancy rate.
Overall, there were 172 unfilled teaching positions in Nunavut, GN figures showed on Aug. 22.
“Similar to what is occurring across Canada (and the globe), Nunavut schools are experiencing a teaching shortage. Recruitment is a priority for the department to attract more educators,” stated Sandi Chan, communications officer at the Department of Education.
The department said it’s attempting to recruit more teachers by training them here in the territory through the Nunavut Teacher Education Program. There are also promotional campaigns through social media and connections have been established with universities in the south.
Under an agreement with the Nunavut Teachers Association, staff received a nine per cent wage hike on July 1, and will get successive three per cent pay raises in 2026 and 2027.
There are plans to develop an Inuit-specific Educator Retention and Recruitment Action Plan, the department said.
Kivalliq and Kitikmeot schools began their first day of classes on either Aug. 15 or Aug. 22, while most schools in Qikiqtani will begin on Sept. 3.
For the first time this year, Nunavummiut children in kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms will learn from a made-in-Nunavut curriculum, the department said.
“A key part of this cultural grounding is the emphasis on Inuktut during a child’s earliest years. This focus on language and identity supports children in developing a strong sense of self and cultural belonging right from the start,” Chan stated.
The department also highlighted two online tools, launched earlier this year, that promote literacy.
In June, the began offering colourful picture books, stories and cultural tales traditional to Nunavut. In May, free Inuktitut and English language storybooks, audiobooks, teaching materials, videos and music were made available through .
