Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister of Social Services, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been progress on the policy. In light of that, the program is being transferred to Education. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. Mr. Speaker, communication is very important. It enhances culture and language, and promotes other important elements in our culture. There are speculations that funding for the Inuktitut TV programs are to be cut by the federal government. Mr. Speaker, many people in the NWT, of all ages, enjoy the television programs in their own native language. The significance of this cannot be over-emphasized. Could the Minister advise the House that the funding for the native television programming will not be cut during the upcoming fiscal year? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, that particular assurance really cannot be given by myself as Minister because most funding which is presently received by the aboriginal organizations for northern television, TVNC, is provided by the federal government. They have made the decision to make some cuts. I can indicate to the honourable Member that any funding which this government provides will not be cut and has been approved in terms of our obligations. On the federal funding, the concern we have had and are expressing to the Government of Canada is that we are concerned about the cuts which have been suggested by the federal government to TVNC and also to the northern native communications society, with regard to the Press Independent. I can indicate to the honourable Member that we support the continuation of the funding. I have already, through the Government Leader, articulated and sent a message to the Government of Canada with regard to our support for the continuation of that funding.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. I would like to indicate, Mr. Speaker, to the honourable Member, there are a number of considerations which are now being given to the matter of testing. Across the country we have developed what we consider is a testing assessment which the Ministers of Education have agreed to, one to be implemented on April 1, or at least beginning April 1, 1993, a math test which would give us an idea of the level of abilities our students have with

regard to math across the country and also within the Northwest Territories.

Secondly, in 1994, it is also our intention to introduce a language arts testing program. It has been indicated, Mr. Speaker, a number of times in this House, the lack of standardization of exams that exists to allow us to judge the level of education of the students from region to region, from community to community. As a result of that, we are embarking upon this national testing program. I am hoping it will give us some indication of the level of education in those two crucial areas for the students who we are responsible for educating throughout the Northwest Territories.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I wonder if the department or Minister would be open to the regional divisional boards wanting to standardize their own testing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Nerysoo.

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.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know then if the exams which the Minister is referring to will

be consistent with or equal to the exams of southern high schools.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, yes, they will be consistent and equal to those exams which are being written by grade 12 students across Alberta. We base the present educational program according to the Alberta curriculum. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

One more question, Mr. Speaker. I know that at the present time we base our curriculum on the Alberta education system, but when students come from anywhere in the territories and transfer to a southern school, quite often they will be transferred to a lower class than they were in the Northwest Territories. When these tests are completed, does the Minister or department hope when the students transfer from the north they will be able to go to a southern high school and stay at the same level that they were at in the north? Is that what he is expecting to get out of this?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, the intention is we would hope to have students who were equally educated in every community. This would enable students to transfer from high schools, or any school from kindergarten to grade 12 throughout the Northwest Territories, or to other institutions in southern Canada. It is a concern of mine and I must indicate to the honourable Member that it has been raised on a number of occasions in this House and you can be sure that I have responded and will try to ensure that we have equal education in every community throughout the Northwest Territories.