Third Party to Examine Piapot Curriculum Dispute

Third Party to Examine Piapot Curriculum Dispute

Thursday, October 14, 2004 at 13:35

Indian Affairs says it’s willing to hire an independent evaluator to review a controversial school curriculum at the centre of a dispute on the Piapot First Nation.

Earlier this week, some parents of students at the school blocked the entrance to the school and started occupying the building as a protest against a new curriculum.

As part of a pilot project, a third party – which runs the school on behalf of the band – tested students and put some of them in a form of special education.

The parents of those students that were re-assigned are upset with the move, and won’t re-open the school until their concerns have been addressed.

Indian Affairs spokesman Trevor Sutter says the curriculum is fine — it’s the temporary closure of the school that is hurting the students.

Sutter says the approach has the support of many top officials at Piapot.

He says it appears long-standing divisions between factions on the reserve are playing a role in the dispute.