This is page numbers 367 - 397 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Under the present policy, no, that choice is not there. The policy has been approved, not only by Cabinet but by this Assembly, with the way we've voted the resources in our budgets. I would be careful about how I answer the question because I'm not going to suggest to the honourable Members here that that matter not be considered. However, I do say to the honourable Members that probably the best solution would be for us to ensure that we deliver quality programming in our communities and use all the vehicles to ensure that delivery. Whether we use television and technology to deliver those programs, I think it's in our best interest to respond to the needs of the student through whatever vehicle.

I think the honourable Member, in his own statements, has made reference to the matter of quality. That is our goal and that is hopefully what we can achieve with the support of my colleagues in this House.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you. I appreciate that response. In this case, then, the government's first priority is to respond to the local educational authorities and the divisional boards as opposed to responding to the parents and the students?

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Well, Madam Speaker, I'm hoping that the local representatives, the community educational representatives, are responding to the needs of the children. That would be my presumption. I agree with the honourable Member that if that is not the case, then we have to review the matter. But, I really do believe that the CECs do take to heart the concerns of the children. I think if there are problems in that area, and, as Members of the Assembly, we'll have to address that and, as Minister, I'll have to take the advice of Members of this Assembly.

But, I do believe that our best method of dealing with this issue is to ensure that the elected representatives in the communities are responding to their needs. That is my first priority, to respond to the needs of our children. That is the responsibility of those who are given the administrative management responsibility, like our divisional boards. They have to deal with that issue. I agree with that particular matter.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you. CECs operate in the communities. Do they operate independently or are they operating on the basis of the Education Act and the policies this government has to carry out education in the communities?

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The responsibility of CECs and divisional boards is to carry out the legislation, as the honourable Member has pointed out, including the Education Act. But, also they are to carry out the directives that this department issues to those agencies. If they're not doing that, I think that we have an opportunity, through our strategy and amendments to the Education Act to ensure that they in future have the legislative direction to ensure we meet the needs of our students.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

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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?

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The Speaker

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

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Sorry.

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The Speaker

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

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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.

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The Speaker

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

The Speaker

Boarding Students

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.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 210-12(5): Success Rate Of Akaitcho Vs Home Boarding Students
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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.

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The Speaker

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

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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.

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The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

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