The National Strategy on Inuit Education was released in June 2011 by the National Committee on Inuit Education, led by Mary Simon, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK). For the first time, the four Inuit regions in Canada worked together to develop a unified vision for Inuit education, focusing on key priorities for change (ITK, 2009). The National Strategy provides a framework for transformation and change within Inuit education. The ultimate goal “is to graduate bilingual Inuit children who speak the Inuit language and at least one of Canada’s two official languages, and who possess the skills and knowledge to contribute with pride and confidence to the 21st century” (ITK, 2011).

The Nunavut Education Team at UPEI is involved in the delivery of programs and research projects aimed towards some of the core investments outlined in the strategy including:

• Developing Inuit leaders in education
• Mobilizing parents
• Increasing success in post-secondary education
• Improving services to students who require additional support to graduate

The National Strategy recognizes the UPEI Nunavut Master of Education program as representing “innovative leadership programming” that contributes to Inuit educational self-determination (National Strategy 2011, 76).

Read the National Strategy on Inuit Education  for a full exploration of the key goals for the Inuit Education system.