The department has been developing curricula for schools for many years. Currently, the primary focus of this work is through participation in the Western Canadian Protocol (WCP) for common curriculum and learning resources. This consortium involves the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as the Yukon and NWT in developing curricula and resource documents in a variety of subject areas. The WCP mathematics curriculum (K-9) is being implemented in schools across the NWT this year and the English language arts (K-9) was introduced to the education jurisdictions across the NWT in January. Jurisdictions may choose to implement this curriculum in either 1998-99 or the 1990-00 school years. The grade ten mathematics will also be introduced to schools this fall. Nunavut representatives have been involved in the development and resource selection for these curricula. Many excellent texts and resources are available to support these curricula.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment provided incremental funding of $26.18 per student for the 1997-98 fiscal year to enable divisional education councils and district education authorities to purchase texts and resources to support the implementation of the mathematics curriculum framework. As well, funding has already been identified to support the implementation of the English language arts framework. Textbooks form part of the support materials identified for each curriculum. Our curriculum coordinators at the department are available to support educational councils and schools with curriculum implementation, resource selection and the careful use of their funding to ensure that the appropriate resources are purchased to support teaching and learning in NWT classrooms.

There is no doubt that the department would like to provide additional funding to our schools to enable them to purchase more resources, texts and materials. Unfortunately, our resources are limited. Nevertheless, we have adjusted our funding allocations to ensure that NWT schools are following curricula that provide a high standard of education to students across Western Canada.

The language arts curriculum in Inuktitut is presently under development for the grade 7, 8, and 9 level. However, the Inuuqatigiit curriculum document provides educators with a foundation for their teaching at this level. Education, Culture and Employment develops curriculum documents and teacher resource manuals, but does not produce the program materials for use in the classroom. We provide each jurisdiction funding to establish Teaching and Learning Centres (TLC's) where materials in aboriginal languages can be developed and distributed to schools. The Baffin TLC is one of the most successful in the NWT and has produced a variety of excellent learning materials for programs at all levels. This being said, we recognize that as funding to the TLC's is necessarily limited, the production of materials is unlikely to meet the urgent needs for materials in the schools.