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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are criteria that have been established for home boarding situations in Yellowknife. There's another issue where those students who are presently attending Sir John Franklin will be, what you might say, grandfathered in terms of continuing their education. Another element is, as part of the transfer of Sir John Franklin, we will be working out an agreement with both district school boards on their responsibility for home boarding and the services that they will provide to the students. But, generally speaking, there are criteria that will allow you to qualify whether you receive home board. I will be prepared to provide that criteria to the honourable Member so that he is aware of it. It is generally criteria that are used across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Do I understand the Minister then that it does not mean that those who want to study academics would not qualify? I will rephrase it, Madam Speaker. Those who want to study academic rather than general, will be qualified to come to Yellowknife if academic courses are not held in the Kitikmeot, for instance.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just for the purpose of Members, I believe that question was asked by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, for me to provide a copy of the programs and subjects that were provided in high school programming across the Northwest Territories. It's interesting to note that the academic programs are being offered in the Kitikmeot. What the honourable Member should be aware of is that in some cases some of the students will not be returning to Yellowknife next year, but will be attending high school either in Cambridge Bay or in Coppermine. However, there are some students who will be completing their final year. But it is not a criteria for academic programming or general programming. The subjects for academics will be offered in the high school programs in both Coppermine and Cambridge Bay, next year.

Thank you. Supplementary.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I know that both courses are available in the grade extensions. However, there are some instances, like in Pond Inlet, where there were so many students taking general that it did not warrant having academic classes being held there because there were only one or two students who wanted to take them. Can these two students, for example, be sent to Yellowknife or another centre or another high school where they will be allowed to take academic courses, rather than general?

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Generally, the decision, first of all, of choices of programs is really left with two groups. One, the CECs, through their representation to the divisional board. They determine the

courses that will be offered and the method by which those courses will be offered in the appropriate high school. Secondly, in responding to the needs of -- for instance, the honourable Member gave the example of two students. If the choice of the divisional board is for them to pursue what you might say are 10, 20 and 30 courses, and the suggestion to the divisional board is that they attend school in Iqaluit, that is certainly a decision that could be made in each divisional board.

What would concern me would be if the decisions were such that they didn't want to continue the development of their programs, rather would send them elsewhere. It's in their interest to develop the appropriate programming in their high school to deliver services and programs to students.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I cannot see how he can say a divisional board has any business whatsoever to decide on behalf of the student what kind of course that student should be taking in high school. The CECs and divisional boards' responsibilities are to accommodate students to give them an education along the standards given by the Department of Education, to accommodate the students so that they may take a proper course if they wish to prepare themselves either for Arctic College, university or other trade schools. My question to the Minister is that the parents or the education administrators -- meaning CEC or divisional board -- do not really know what is the best for that particular student who may be entering grade ten, 11 or 12, if he should take 10, 20 or 30 courses. Can the Minister tell the House that these students who want to take academic courses will be accommodated to the best extent possible, rather than given the run-around, telling them this course is not available in Pond Inlet, Coral Harbour or elsewhere? Would they be accommodated to the best of their ability? Thank you.

Minister of Education, just before you proceed, if I could remind Members to keep your preamble as brief as possible. Minister of Education.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't have a problem with the suggestion made by the honourable Member. However, I do say this, that the decision to offer courses and the subjects that are taken by particular students are really the choice of the student. We are prepared to offer, according to the curriculum that is offered which includes academic programs to those students who require them. We will do the best we can in trying to provide the best service possible to those particular students.

If the choice is such that it becomes difficult, then we have to find the alternatives by which we can offer those programs to those students. I just want to advise the honourable Member that the only difference that students will be able to identify, in terms of academic or general, in future, will be the subjects on their transcripts. In other words, if they are 10, 20 or 30, that will be the basis. There will only be one diploma that says you graduated and the basis on which you are considered academic will be the subjects on your transcripts at the end of the year.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.