“They don’t see how important this is to us:” NORTEP-NORPAC looms on the verge of closure
After signing a five year agreement with the provincial government in 2015, the funding for NORTEP-NORPAC is no longer available.
For the last 40 years, the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) has trained educators in North Saskatchewan including La Loche, Black Lake, Fond du Lac, and many more. In 1989 the Northern Professional Access College (NORPAC) was founded to bring arts and science programs to those same people. Now, both programs are essentially no more.
According to student council vice president Rielle Desjarlais, NORTEP-NORPAC is an important resource for northerners who may not be able to travel to Saskatoon or Regina.
“They just kinda laughed at us and didn’t take our questions seriously,” Desjarlais said when she had an opportunity to speak with the minister for Advanced Education for one hour along with the board of directors and a few students.