This News Release is also available in Inuktitut (PDF 81 KB)
Iqaluit, 19 November 2013—The departments of Education and Community and Government Services are not fulfilling their key responsibilities related to the safety of schools and childcare facilities, says the Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, in his report presented to the Nunavut Legislative Assembly today. The audit focuses on the inspections the departments are required to carry out to ensure the safety of students in schools and children in childcare facilities.
“Safety inspections of schools and childcare facilities are intended to identify sources of potential harm so they can be addressed,” said Mr. Ferguson. “When safety issues are left unaddressed, it compromises the safety of the children and staff.”
Though the Department of Community and Government Services’ internal procedures call for twice-yearly fire inspections in schools and childcare facilities, the audit found that from 2010 to 2012, inspections were carried out as required only about one third of the time in selected childcare facilities and in only five of eight schools examined. The audit also found that 60 percent of the issues in schools identified through those inspections had been raised in previous inspections.
In addition, the Department of Education conducted only 33 percent of inspections for licensing childcare facilities within the required 12 month period. Further, the audit found that when inspections were conducted, the Department did not ensure that deficiencies were corrected before issuing a license to operate. As a result, some childcare facilities were operating despite known deficiencies.
“The two departments need to work together to ensure that safety inspections in schools and childcare facilities are carried out as required,” said Mr. Ferguson. “They also need to follow up to ensure that any identified deficiencies are corrected quickly.”
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