Government of Yukon provides additional staffing and tutoring supports for the 2020–21 school year

The Government of Yukon is hiring more educators and has increased funding for tutoring programs to support students for the remainder of the 2020–21 school year.

The Department of Education is currently in the process of hiring 11 additional educators to support the three Whitehorse high schools that are providing half-day in-class programming as well as the Wood Street Centre and 12 educators to support elementary and rural schools. Staff will be deployed in various positions to support students, including success coaches, learning assistance teachers and blended learning and counselling supports.

An additional $150,000 in funding support has also been made available to schools, organizations and Yukon First Nations governments for tutoring programs to enhance supports for students.

Resources needed to support student learning continue to be monitored, while school operations and programming has been adapted to meet health and safety guidelines during the pandemic. The Government of Yukon has heard from students, families and school staff through its Learning during COVID-19 surveys, which provided additional feedback to regular assessment and reporting on student learning by educators. The results of the second Learning during COVID-19 survey are now available on engageyukon.ca.

We are committed to ensuring students and teachers are successful and safe at school as we continue to respond to the pandemic. We value the feedback from students, families and educators and appreciate the challenges they are facing in an unprecedented school year. These additional supports are part of our ongoing effort to help students and educators deal with the impacts of the pandemic across our education system.

Minister of Education Tracy-Anne McPhee

Quick facts 
  • The second Learning during COVID-19 survey was open from November 23 to November 30 and was completed by 2,085 respondents, including 1,340 parents, 496 students and 249 school staff. Respondents were asked about their experiences and perspectives since the beginning of the school year on:

    • health and safety routines at Yukon schools;
    • learning now that students are back at school; and
    • blended learning for Grade 10 to 12 students at F.H. Collins, Porter Creek and Vanier Catholic secondary schools.
  • Survey questions for the Learning during COVID-19 surveys were developed with opportunities for input from Yukon First Nations, school councils, the Association of Yukon School Councils, Boards and Committees, the Catholic Education Association of Yukon, Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon and the Yukon Teachers’ Association.

Media contact 

Renee Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca

Maria Paré
Communications, Education
867-332-1506
maria.pare@yukon.ca

News release #: 
21-019