Mr. Chairman, just a short one. In respect to qualitative education, that is completely debatable. We could debate from region to region, from divisional board to divisional board, because some people will consider qualitative education on the basis that we will, very smoothly, enter into post-secondary education from high school.
Other divisional boards and societies feel that qualitative education should include cultural programs and knowledges. That sometimes may not prepare them without additional lessons or credits to be taken in order to place them in the post-secondary. This is very much debatable.
Although we are using the standard that has been adopted, like, improve the quality of the education in the N.W.T., the quality of the education depends upon highly skilled teachers, quality curriculum, etc. This is, of course, the Department of Education's objectives. I am not here to judge what the quality of education is that Mr. Antoine is talking about because he has a very good case, whatever the quality of education is best suited for that particular region.
I would like to have that talked about more, especially in committee meetings and the public at home. In terms of distance education, I am very encouraged by Mr. Morin's statement this morning, that he has spoken to NorthwesTel to try to determine how the small communities Mr. Antoine is talking about, can be serviced with the telephone system. If that becomes a reality, then we probably, with the technology that we have now, can introduce distance education. Especially those who are in the higher grades, or who have dropped out of school, or wish to attend the adult education programs.
In terms of combining the grade eight and nine, or seven and eight, we fund the divisional boards on the per capita basis, per student basis. For example, $218 per student in O & M, and $78 for culture inclusion program, I am using this as a very small example. If there is eight grade eights and eight grade nines, then it is up to the divisional board how they would like to place those students because we place them only on the per capita basis, per student basis.
Again, how do we make the students successful in the area of completing high school from those who have enrolled in kindergarten or grade one to get them into grade 12. I think that I said during the S.C.O.F. meetings, that in order to have successful students, you cannot just drive the Department of Education to get successful programs, we agree that we should but it takes other concerned citizens, the parents, the society, of course the teachers, the leaders, and businesses. It takes everybody to have a successful education program, especially at the community level.
I cannot ask for more, other than it takes everybody, the department can finance it, the divisional board can administer it, but it takes society to make it successful. I cannot stress it any further than that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.