Students Missing School in the North | Calgary News

Calgary News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 7, 2026 · 1m

Students in the Northwest Territories are missing school at alarming rates—averaging over one day per week—with some falling three years behind by graduation. Attendance plummets to just 35% in remote communities, fueled by teacher shortages, underfunding, and the loss of critical Indigenous support funding. Despite no legal mandate for attendance or territory-wide grading policies, educators are experimenting with flexible schedules, engaging bus rides, and a revamped curriculum centered on well-being and Indigenous knowledge to rebuild student connection and relevance. The path forward…