Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are always interested in looking at performance indicators. I would expect the department will continue to look for ways which we can assess performance and ensure it is adequate. We have a good set of indicators in place. Graduation rates being one of the best indicators of success in our system. As I have pointed out, 50 percent of the final mark in grade 12 is dependent on a departmental exam which is shared with Alberta. That alone gives us a pretty good comparison as to how our students compare with those in Alberta. We need to remember each divisional education council has to have the flexibility to work within their system to find what works with their students. We have to be careful about taking an approach which might be too rigid across the territories and might not respond to regional needs.
I am satisfied, Mr. Speaker, with the current system. The Member can be assured that the department will continue to look for ways to demonstrate the NWT students are achieving success. I also would like to express some concern about the Member's indication that these national tests will have any relation to how students do in southern universities. Mr. Speaker, southern universities or southern colleges take a look at a student's transcript. They do not look at just a graduation certificate, they do not look at a diploma, you only get admitted to another institution based on your transcript. That includes the marks on each and every course the student takes. As I have said, a good portion of the marks the grade 12 students now receive is based on departmental exams from Alberta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.