Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall

In the Legislative Assembly on February 25th, 1994. See this topic in context.

Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 374

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the subject of Akaitcho Hall, I was one of the first students in that residence back in 1958. I spent considerable time in residential school, myself. So did my brothers. I had two brothers attend Akaitcho. So the Minister doesn't have a monopoly on being in residential schools, if that's governing the decisions being made about residential schools.

I want to ask a question about the purpose for closing Akaitcho Hall. I guess it's been cited that there's a decline in the number of students. The place can't operate unless it's full, or a majority full. I would like to know whether the decline in the number of students in Akaitcho Hall is because the students didn't want to come to Akaitcho Hall, or because their parents didn't want them to come to Akaitcho Hall, or because the department didn't want them to come to Akaitcho Hall for education. What would be the factors?

Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

February 24th, 1994

Page 374

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 374

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I didn't say I had a monopoly, I had suggested I wouldn't want other students to stay away from home as long as I did, and I think there are others who did.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of factors that are important when you review the whole matter of the closure of Akaitcho Hall, and the whole matter of the transfer of Sir John. The increasing number of community secondary schools has meant that the number of students coming to Yellowknife for their high school education is decreasing each year. In our anticipation, for instance, for September of 1994, it's expected to be about 50 students who will be continuing their high school education in Yellowknife. In other words, we are not asking those students who already began their high school program here to move out of Yellowknife. These students presently can be accommodated more effectively and at less cost through home boarding. The Executive Council has given approval for closure effective June 30. We are treating our staff, under the workforce adjustment program, as fairly as we can. Those, in my view, are some of the factors.

The other issue is there is a cost factor if you review it. The resulting savings are 26 PYs at a cost of $2.7 million in salaries and O and M costs. There are other potential savings and utility costs, but I am not sure about those. Generally speaking, those are the factors we had to consider. There will be an ongoing decline in the total number of students as these students graduate and as we improve community secondary programs.

Return To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 375

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 375

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it is hard to argue against the value of education in your own community. It is also difficult to argue against the value of education away from home. It is a well-known fact that when you travel, you gain additional knowledge. Akaitcho Hall, in conjunction with Sir John Franklin, offered many people in communities opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. Many of the Members have expressed that here and I will also express that. If a student decides they want to get an education away from their home community, for a variety of reasons that are very well-known to Members of this House, will this opportunity still be available to them to get education in Yellowknife or Fort Smith, et cetera?

Supplementary To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 375

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 375

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Under the policies that have been approved by this Assembly, the ability for students to move from region to region will be much more restricted. In fact, in some cases, the opportunity will not be available to them. However, most of the resources we have for secondary schooling are now being transferred to the divisional boards. They can make a decision, if they so choose, to provide the assistance and resources to students who wish to attend school outside their particular area. As such, we have made a choice of removing ourselves from the daily operational decisions that we were formerly involved in because we have given authority to the divisional and regional boards.

Further Return To Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 375

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.