Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Prior to going line by line through the budget, the standing committee on finance Members have a few general comments they would like to make. My comments are, perhaps, somewhat redundant because we made them in our open speech yesterday. However, for the record, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our position.
As everybody knows from the speech made yesterday, education certainly was the most contentious issue in this budget. I want to repeat, again, that the real concern with the Department of Education is to find success in terms of enrolment and the fact that there is little or no reflection of achievement. It was our observation that there is a serious overcrowding problem in Yellowknife high schools that simply needs urgent fixing. Originally, six million dollars was budgeted for an addition and renovation of Sir John Franklin Territorial High School for this Legislative Assembly to vote on. We have been told the department will transfer these funds to build four regional high schools instead. Yet, at the time of discussion with the Department of Education, we were told there was no regional high school policy in place. Frankly, we doubt if there is any long-term policy in place to reflect their education. We intend to be vigilant and bring this to the Minister's attention.
We also know that Members of the Legislative Assembly have not been consulted on the major change in policy. We suspect, at this time, the communities have not blessed it. Our experience and research indicates that high schools in the communities appear not to be working, particularly in the Eastern Arctic.
The Minister of Finance indicates that this budget lives up to prior commitments, and yet previously planned major renovations to kindergarten to grade 12 schools have been dropped completely by the Department of Education from this new budget and new initiatives have been introduced. In addition, while kindergarten to grade 12 schools have not been attended to as they should, the original budget commences a series of construction to the Arctic College building which cost a total of $7.4 million. While the whole future of Arctic College is in some dispute, this committee believes that the first priority should be given to the kindergarten to grade 12 schools that need renovation. This committee is concerned about the state of education, as is the Minister. The statistics demonstrate that the Northwest Territories is not meeting its human resource needs which will affect our capability to implement the "northern hire, northern buy" policy.
With respect to the department's budget, we have recommended that cabinet re-examine educational priorities in light of the evidence of graduation results provided by the department and comparative testing. The department has not presented a convincing solution to the current problem of quality of education in the Northwest Territories as described by committee Members. The committee will focus on the department's action plan and regional high school policy, particularly, when the main estimates come forward.
Yellowknife High School Overcrowding
The Yellowknife high school overcrowding situation should be resolved on an immediate basis. Available funding should focus on kindergarten to grade 12 facilities where needed to satisfy the needs of the students.
The mission of the Department of Education should be focused on producing quality graduates at the grade 12 level first and foremost. This is critical to the success factor that the government will closely monitor. Everybody in the government must work together toward this outcome.
It has been suggested that grades be extended to communities in need while planning for needs in Yellowknife, on the basis that funding saved from other committee recommendations will address Yellowknife's present requirements. Grades should be extended only where it satisfies and is justified by the needs of the students. Construction of the planned new Yellowknife high school for $7.5 million be should fast-tracked, as we suggested in our recommendation for 1993-94. Serious consideration should be given to putting the proposals forward by the local school board.
Cabinet must live up to prior commitments in education before proposing new initiatives. An example of this is renovations to the Hay River high school and the Fort Smith elementary school before enhancements and new renovations take place. The department must develop a credible five-year capital plan and provide it to this committee. Priority in education needs must be placed at the kindergarten to grade 12 level, and Arctic College must develop a strategy that avoids the duplication of services currently delivered at six campuses. Further, the committee recommends that all capital related to Arctic College other than adult education centres be deferred until a plan and strategy has been approved by this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.