The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), in partnership with Douglas College, is offering the Education Assistance and Inclusion (EIA) Certificate as a pilot program beginning January 2022. The pilot program is only available in English.

Eligible participants in this pilot program are Support Assistants currently working in NWT schools, who are permanent employees, and hold a high school diploma or equivalency.

• Education Assistance and Inclusion Pilot Fact Sheet

Students will go through the program as a cohort, drawing on real-life examples, contextualizing the material to people and places in the NWT. These courses will support them in developing the specialized skills to encourage the wellbeing, development, and education of students.

This 30-credit course will be delivered online through Blackboard – Douglas College’s learning platform. Students will take one or two courses a semester – 10 in total – while continuing to work in their Support Assistant position enabling job-embedded learning.

They will also complete a five-week work-practicum tailored to their current position. ECE will cover the costs of fees, tuition, and materials for the pilot program. As such, students will be asked for feedback to improve the course, while they earn their certification for free.

This program leads into other higher credential programs, and students can transfer credits from the EAI certificate into:

• the second year of Douglas College’s Classroom and Community Support (CCS) Diploma, a program that extends learning into inclusive support, transitions to adulthood and behavioral intervention for children with autism.
• another equivalent type of program.
• further learning: diploma programs can ladder into degree programs, including but not limited to child and youth care, education, and more.

For more information, contact:

Your local Regional Inclusive Schooling Coordinator

ECE: Kelley_Andrews-Klein@gov.nt.ca

Douglas College: dacs@douglascollege.ca