Will Nunavut's high school graduation rates improve?

It's a proud week for high school students in Nunavut, where more than 200 people will cross the podium,set for post-secondary education or forthe work force.

The territory hopes the number of high school graduateswill go upby getting more students to show up to class, a challenge facing many teachers in Nunavut.

"It's crucial for our students to be at school every day," said Paul Quassa, Nunavut's minister of education. "And to be in school every day, you will graduate and that is one of the important messages that I would like to give to all our students."

Education opens the doors for you in life.- Pakak Picco, Inukshuk High School graduate

Statistics from 2012show attendance rates at Nunavut schools rangefrom a high of 91 per cent at Iqaluit'sEcole Trois Soleils, toa low of 46 per cent at Cape Dorset's Peter Pitseolak School.

Overall, studentattendance is about 71 per cent.

PakakPicco, who, along with about 40 others, graduates from Inukshuk High School in IqaluitSaturday, has words of encouragement for those who struggle to motivate themselves to go to school. He says itstarts with not giving up.

"Don't quit. Keep trying as hard as you can. Education opens the doors for you in life. You need education to get a good job."

Quassasays parent involvement is the key to keeping students in school and graduating.

He says the Department of Education continues to monitor attendanceand graduation rates closely, butplans to have a better monitoring system for September 2014.