Igloo Talk

[Heather]

Read the article here

2 Issues:
1 - Fails in hiring
2 - Fails in evaluation of staff


ISSUE 1: Fails in hiring
Fact: Most government departments (federal/provincial/territorial) will not hire people who don't have at least a post-secondary degree. Administrative work aside, it would have to be an exceptional case (a person with cultural/language/experience - something the gov. does not have but needs to communicate with the general population/community) if he or she is hired for a meaningful position in governent.

"More Training" is not enough. There have been many Inuit who have gone through professional development programs (some up to 3 years) only to find out that they were not accredited and are not recognized (in other words, not qualified).

Inuit families and students need to be supported to complete their elementary, middle school, high school and post-secondary education. Once these supports are solidly in place and each student succeeds from one level to the next, experience will fall into place as they begin working in government.

Until Inuit receive the kind of education that is enjoyed by the rest of Canadians, they will be dependent on these "qualified" people to frame their policies and programs within government (and related organizations).

ISSUE 2: Fails in evaluation of staff
Nunavut government depts. are not the only ones failing in evaluation of staff, and program effectiveness. At the federal level, these problems are rooted in the New Public Management framework.

The 2009 Auditor General's report addresses the issue of program effectiveness:

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Program

Some of the main findings include (that stood out for me):
- Challenge of finding experienced evaluators (extensive use of contractors)

- Effective Evaluation Tool did not adequately assess program effectiveness

- Identify Needs & Build evaluatinon into program
Increase evaluation spending

- View evaluation as neutral & systematic information framework
Expenditure management system

While this report largely focuses on the effectiveness and evaluation of spending and programs, the system is based on a social process that includes human beliefs and values of how things should operate. It also touches on the "capacity" (human resource) issue which is contributing to the problem.
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"It is a delightful harmony when doing and saying go together." -Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592).