Archived - Success Story: Improving Access to the Labour Market in Northwest Territories (NWT)

Delivered by the three northern colleges, the Northern Adult Basic Education Program (NABEP) is improving access to basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, so working age adults are better positioned to participate in the northern labour market. Starting in fiscal year 2011-12, NABEP provided $27 million over five years to the three territorial colleges: Yukon College, Aurora College, and Nunavut Arctic College. NABEP was renewed for $3.9 million for one year in Budget 2016 with the aim to maintain momentum for curriculum development and will allow time for developing next steps for adult basic education, skills, and training in the North. Over the first five years of the Program, Aurora College received just over $9.2 million for basic adult education programs and services in the Northwest Territories. 

In the Northwest Territories, the Program has seen great success over the first five years. In 2014-15 alone, over 780 adult learners were served by the Program, of which 80% were Indigenous. A total of 44 programs were offered in this same year, of which 23 were located in community learning centres across the territory ensuring access to learning activities outside of the capital area of Yellowknife.  Additionally, in the first four years of the program, there was an increase by 76% of students who had completed NABEP programming who went on to post-secondary training. This translates into 178 students going on to post-secondary training in 2014-15 alone.

The Northern Adult Basic Education Program complements other programs offered by the federal government and the territories, by helping Aurora College expand their services in adult basic education. Through this program, businesses in the NWT will have access to more local workers with basic skills. It also helps Northerners get the training they need to get and keep jobs in high-demand sectors such as mining, construction, and tourism.