The territorial government and the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) have announced a two-year process to look at reforming the education system.

'We will seek ways to increase students' success, particularly first nations success, through the betterment of Yukon's education system,' Education Minister John Edzerza told a press conference held at Elijah Smith Elementary School this morning.

The process will focus on looking at not just schools and the Education Act, but the entire Education department, administration and policy surrounding education in the Yukon.

'I think through this process we will find out about issues around education and really search for improvement in areas that appear to be a concern to first nations,' said Edzerza.

Though there have been similar studies in the past, this one appears to be full of potential, said Joe Linklater, chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

'The education system hasn't changed; we have, and we feel ready to take new responsibilities,' he said.

He added that improving education is not just about children, but is a way of taking on social issues, such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the communities.

Linklater said he believes changes to the education system could result in solving some of the larger social issues facing first nations' communities within their next generation.

The education reform process will focus on making the education system responsive to the needs of all Yukoners, said Ed Schultz, co-chair of the education reform process' steering committee and a former grand chief of the CYFN.

'This process is designed to be a public consultation process with everyone: aboriginals, non-aboriginals, students, educators, administrators, legislators, cabinet members, chiefs, councillors; everyone who has an interest in trying to find means in which to make our system more universally applicable to all our students in the territory.'

This process will be about achieving a work plan that incorporates the findings of past studies and reports, such as the Education Act Review, and implementing them in a way that addresses today's realities, said Schultz.

The goal is to create a system that responds to the needs of all youth and children, he added.

Creating partnerships is important to advancing this process, said Edzerza.

The two-year reform discussions will model the Children's Act review process. First nations not part of the CYFN will be invited to attend discussions, as well as all Yukoners interested in the process.

The Yukon government will contribute $794,000 over the course of 2005-06 to facilitate the discussions.

'The government of the Yukon is committed to working with first nations and improving success rates of aboriginal students,' said Edzerza.

'Involving first nations in the education reform process is an important part in creating positive changes in the education system.'

The well-being and educational success of all children in the Yukon is fundamental for the success of the territory, as a whole, he said. This process will help develop a sense of belonging, he added.

The initiative comes in the wake of three Yukon first nations looking for the transfer of education programs.

The process will not have any impact on those negotiations. However, Edzerza added that using partnerships, such as this reform, may be a better route than the transfer of education.

'I think it would be very difficult to have two school systems in the territory, so this is one avenue to have and to work at.'

The push for education programs transfers and the announcement of this review process is only a coincidence, he told the Star. Discussions investigating how to go about the reform process have been occurring for almost two years.

This will provide an opportunity to fully hear the concerns and frustrations that exist across the territory, he said.

The results may provide better options than implementing separate first nation school systems, which he referred to as a 'very difficult challenge.'

'I don't think two school systems can function 100 per cent,' said Edzerza.

Said Linklater: 'Self-government allows first nations to draw down education, but, as the minister said, there are consequences to that as well. I think what we're trying to do here is collectively respond to the issues that face us in terms of education.

'We're not going about this as a matter of trying to win a popularity contest. There is something wrong there and we want to address that.'

Even if transfer of education programs occurred, the YTG will always be responsible for administering public schools and they will remain open to first nation and non-first nation students, said Edzerza.

The goal of the reform process is to try to get rid of the disparity that exists between students and communities, he added.

'Through this process, we are going to open doors and we're going to keep them open.'

Linklater agreed. '(The reform process is) not as much about our children as it is about our future as a territory and how we are going to move forward and evolve.'