Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been a number of questions this week about a request by teachers at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School in Inuvik for additional days to take more in-service training and

to handle administrative duties. Mr. Speaker, the teachers' request to the community education council was turned down last November. As a result, the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association is supporting a work-to-rule situation. This means that teachers are not participating in school activities that take place outside of normal classes until they get what they want.

This is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker. Under our Education Act, teachers are required to spend 190 days -- or just a little more than six months each year -- teaching our students. The collective agreement provides them with an additional five paid professional development days each year. Now the teachers at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School want an additional one and a half in-service days and one more day at the end of the year for administrative purposes. School would be closed on these days.

Mr. Speaker, there is a public process for establishing the school year in each jurisdiction. School calendars and schedules are developed by divisional boards of education and are based on our criteria of 190 teaching days. The development of the schedules involves consultation with parents through community education councils. That is the way it should be done, and I do not see any reason to change this practice.

As a result, I was pleased to learn yesterday that the Beaufort/Delta Divisional Board of Education will be reviewing this matter. Once the review has been completed, the board will be presenting a recommendation to my office.