Curriculum

The Department of Education establishes the curriculum and general philosophy of education for all Yukon schools.

The Government of Yukon is a full partner in the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol (WNCP). This protocol supports the development of common curriculum frameworks for Western and Northern Canada.

Within these frameworks, the British Columbia program of studies forms the basis of the Yukon curriculum. This curriculum is frequently adapted to reflect local needs and conditions.

Curriculum Services

The Department of Education provides extensive curriculum support to Yukon schools. Curriculum consultants with varied specialties, expertise and experience are in regular contact with schools. Curriculum consultants visit schools frequently and provide resources and in-house training to teachers. Yukon consultants are experienced classroom teachers ready to assist teachers in a broad range of subject areas and at all grade levels.

First Nations Content in the Yukon Curriculum

The Education Act mandates an emphasis on First Nations’ language and culture, not just for Yukon First Nations’ students, but for all students in Yukon schools. The Yukon First Nation population represents 23% of the territory’s population—a number that is certainly reflected in the classroom.

The success of First Nations students in the Yukon school system is a priority for the Government of Yukon. Creating a school system that both engages First Nations students and teaches the values and complexities of First Nations culture is an important first step in facilitating that success.

To this end, the Department of Education employs about thirty full-time equivalent native language instructors who teach First Nations languages in 19 out of 28 Yukon schools, including all rural schools.

Yukon First Nations materials and resources currently under development include a grade 5 Land Claims unit, a Yukon First Nations History 12 textbook and an early reader series of booklets focusing on Yukon First Nations culture and language. All of these materials will be piloted in 2005/06.

As a way to include First Nation culture in the curriculum, the Government of Yukon provides funding to schools to enhance their First Nations cultural programming. Such programming includes First Nation cultural activities such as bison hunts, moccasin making, beading and carving.

In addition to providing materials and resources for improving the integration of First Nations culture into the Yukon curriculum, the Department of Education has launched the Education Reform Process in partnership with the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Through these consultations, all stakeholders will identify ways to improve the Yukon education system to make it more meaningful and more relevant to all students in Yukon, especially First Nation students. The Education Reform Process steering committee can be reached at 393-6960 for more information.

Curriculum
Department of Education
Government of Yukon
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6

Phone: (867) 667-5607
Toll free (In Yukon):
1-800-661-0408, local 8000
Fax: (867) 393-6339

curriculum@gov.yk.ca