Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

My final supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Is the direction the department is taking with regard to the year 2010 the direction we are going, regardless of whether the community, the parents and children wish those changes be made?

Madam Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. May I remind you that I'm not Mr. Speaker?

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Sorry.

Madam Speaker

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to advise the honourable Member that one of the reasons we have not come forward with a detailed strategy at this particular time and have rather come forward with a discussion paper, is to get the views of honourable Members on the concerns they have. We will have an opportunity to influence the direction of education generally across the north with the amendments to the Education Act, and my honourable colleague is the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Legislation.

That legislation will be coming forward for review and the honourable Member, the committee, along with other Members, can have influence in this matter. We are consulting with communities on the development of this strategy and have received as many as 50 submissions on the strategy. It is our view that we should go back to the communities before we come forward with a final document.

Madam Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The department has talked about expanding the home boarding program to handle students who come to Yellowknife after the closure of Akaitcho Hall. Home boarding does not have something that Akaitcho Hall does have, I guess, in that Akaitcho Hall provides a peer support structure where students can share their experiences and support each other. This should theoretically mean that students have a more likely chance to success and complete their studies. I would like to ask the Minister, at this time, if there is any difference in the success rate, currently between those students who are home boarded versus those students who are in Akaitcho Hall. Thank you.

Madam Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. I don't have those specific statistics, Madam Speaker. Except I know this, that this success rate so far at Akaitcho Hall has been five per cent. There have now been increases in the whole matter of home boarding students in terms of success rates. But the total amount has been five per cent at Akaitcho Hall.

Madam Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be able to provide those statistics comparing the success of the home boarding students versus the success of the Akaitcho Hall students. Thank you.

Madam Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. Yes, Madam Speaker, I would be prepared to provide them.