Fewer student support workers in classrooms this year

There's been a drop in casual student support assistance, SSAs, in classrooms this year. These people assist teachers and students who require extra help. This year, 11 casual workers have been hired compared to 36 last school year. The Department of Education says numbers fluctuate depending on the year, but eligibility for the Inuit Child First Initiative did change in February of last year, restricting school-related requests and making it harder to ask for casual SSAs. Nunavut Teachers Association President Justin Matchett says it makes a difference having that extra support. When you become accustomed to that help, and it was really needed and wanted help, when that's gone away, then it does create a certain amount of strain on the teachers that are still in the classroom. Matchett says casual SSAs exist in a grey area. They aren't members of the teachers' union, the government, or the employees' union. They are funded through Jordan's principle by district education authorities. The NAU says they are aware of these casual positions and that all SSA positions should be unionized. Matchett said he'd like to see more permanent employees in schools. Indigenous Services Canada didn't respond by deadline. Bianca McEwen, CBC News, Iqaluit.