Mr. Speaker, I would like to indicate to the honourable Member, my only major concern with the idea of each particular region developing their own standard exam is the inconsistencies which might arise from region to region. Particularly, if we are providing education under the Alberta curriculum, I think it would be in our interest and in the interest of each region to ensure there was some consistency among testing so we could transfer students from one school to the other. We could then expect the level of education or teaching which is being provided in the schools is consistent across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, some of the programs are an extension for high school students. Arviat is a good example for the honourable Members. The students who graduated from grade 12 last year, based on the Alberta curriculum were more successful than any other students to date in that particular program. It was based on the fact that they were given the same education and wrote the same departmental exams so we knew what level of education and what qualifications they had.

Despite the fact that I am not opposed to the idea of regional examinations, my concern would be the regional examinations may not allow us to make those judgements on the level of education or teaching we are providing to the students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.