How the Pre-Work Training Path Builds Student Success in Nunavik
Our Pathways to Student Success form a basket of choices: paths that head in various directions, yet intersect and support one another to create a resilient connection. The Pre-Work Training program in Nunavik is one of these many interwoven threads that are part of the whole. It’s a specific pathway designed for students to explore, follow, and eventually master.
“Growth happens when you’re here to experience it,” explains Nancy, a teacher with 28 years of experience in education. “I work with you step-by-step at first, but the goal is for you to eventually take those steps on your own. Without that routine, independence is much harder to reach.”
Not a Shortcut, But a Commitment
For Nancy, the PWT program is where she sees students truly find their footing. Rooted in commitment, it relies on a steady hand and at least 75% attendance to ensure every learner reaches their destination.
“There’s a stigma that PWT is just a place where you’re ‘dropped’ if the regular program wasn’t the right fit,” Nancy says. “But it’s the opposite. It’s a space for students who are ready to work but need a new environment to blossom. Once they get that one-on-one time, they take flight.”
I believe classroom work is as important as the projects. It gives the kids a routine and it lets them be students. We must keep working on the academics in PWT so they can feel those accomplishments.
Academics and Practical Life Skills Education
While the program is hands-on, Nancy keeps the academic bar high, ensuring students aren’t just working, but learning. “We see kids from all walks of life who, for one reason or another, found that the regular setup wasn’t the right fit for them. But no matter what level you’re coming in with, everybody can learn. It is so important to give them that academic space to succeed.”
In her classroom, math is more than numbers; it is a form of practical life skills education that students use daily. The class learns to master budgeting and profit by calculating the real costs of a Nunavik household:
The curriculum also extends into the kitchen through the school canteen. “We don’t just bake; we learn the math of recipes and the economics of a budget,” Nancy says. By selling items for $1, students learn to navigate local stores and manage a business. This year, they are even levelling up to host a full-scale lunch sale for the public, managing everything from large-scale purchasing to profit margins.
Every Student Needs a Path That Fits Them
Whether it leads straight to the local workforce or serves as a stepping stone to further education, the PWT certificate opens doors. Choosing this path is a collaborative journey focused on youth workforce preparation, starting with a thoughtful conversation between families and school teams to find the right fit for every learner.
Nancy recalls one former student who used her PWT foundation as a bridge to Adult Education and who eventually graduated from an Early Childhood Development program. As Nancy puts it: “She was always capable of the work; she just needed a different space to learn and grow. That’s exactly what she did.”
Rather than a final stop, this pathway ensures every student leaves school with a clear sense of direction and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with building their own success.
Families are encouraged to explore all the pathways offered through Nunavik schools and learn how each one supports different strengths and aspirations.