The GNWT has released its timeline and implementation plan for renewing the Northwest Territories Junior Kindergarten (JK) to Grade 12 school curriculum.
After extensive research, consultation, analysis and engagement, it was announced in December 2021 that the GNWT is partnering with the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Education to renew the NWT JK to 12 curriculum.
Throughout public and stakeholder engagement on curriculum renewal, the GNWT heard that it should not rush the transition and implementation of the new curriculum. Based on this feedback, the finalized timeline will see a gradual transition.
BC’s curriculum will be adapted and implemented in the NWT by multi-grade divisions (JK/K, Grades 1-3; 4-6; 7-8; 9; 10-12). Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, schools will have the option to trial one, some, or all subjects of the BC draft curriculum in certain grades.
The first group to trial the draft curriculum will be Grades 4-6. This group is best able to take on learning in the BC curriculum that is ‘inquiry-based,’ which means it’s interactive and engaging, emphasizing the student’s role in learning based on questions or ideas students want to explore. Students in this age group, and their teachers, are already familiar with these approaches.
The last group to trial the draft curriculum will be Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten. Although the current play-based NWT Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten curriculum is a good fit with BC’s, the curriculum renewal process requires further review to ensure a seamless transition for young children moving into our elementary schools.
Grades 10-12 will implement the curriculum after the earlier grades, as ECE works to determine to what degree BC’s high school curriculum will be adapted to the NWT.
The 2027-28 school year will be the final year of implementation, with the final curriculum implemented in all grades and subjects, and all of BC’s assessment tools (exams, standardized testing) will be in place.
Feedback received from educators during the trialing phases will inform any additional revisions and/or adaptations of the curriculum. The GNWT will continue to update the public as it progresses on implementing the renewed curriculum.