Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to extend my congratulations to 10 members of the first community-based grade 10 high school program to graduate from Repulse Bay.
I am sure that without this program, many students would have chosen not to leave the community to continue their education. With the addition of grade 11 this fall, and grade 12 in the fall of 1996, these students will now be able to stay in their home community with their families and friends, to complete their high school education.
Mr. Speaker, my thanks and congratulations goes out to the staff of Tusarvik School for their hard work and dedication to the students of this community. Even with the limited space in their school, they are still able to provide a quality education to the students. However, the problem of overcrowding in Tusarvik School is beginning to have a negative impact on both staff and students. Due to the lack of space in the school, they were forced to use the library as a classroom and a computer lab. Next year will be even worse with the addition of grade 11. Both grades 10 and 11 will have to share the library space. To compound the problem even further, 22 new kindergarten students will be enroling in the fall of 1995.
Mr. Speaker, this is why the residents of Repulse Bay are asking to have the expansion of Tusarvik School identified in the government's five-year capital plan moved from 1998-99 to the 1996-97 fiscal year. It is my hope that the government will take action on this matter so that the education being provided to the students of this community will not be compromised in any way.
(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make this statement and I thank you, Mr. Speaker. The students who graduated in Repulse were the first in that community once higher grade levels were introduced within those communities. Had they not attended school within their home community, I doubt that they would have completed grade 10 or the higher levels. With the introduction of grade 11 within those communities, and eventually grade 12 in 1996, this is joyous to see. It's good that young people will be able to stay within their own communities to be amongst their friends and their own people and complete their education at higher levels.
Mr. Speaker, I'm very grateful and I'm very proud of those people who were involved in teaching these students.
--- Applause