Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that a new teacher education strategy has been developed and will be in place when the current Teacher Education Program ends in 1999. Mr. Speaker, I provided each Member of this Assembly a copy of the strategy earlier today.

The territorial government first committed to significantly increasing the number of northern aboriginal teachers in 1993. This strategy focused on qualifying teachers for elementary schools. One of its major initiatives was to make Teacher Education Programs available in communities, not just at the major college campuses. The strategy has been very successful in increasing the number of aboriginal teachers in the school system. In 1992, there were 146 aboriginal teachers in the school system. By the year 1999, when the current community-based Teacher Education Programs are completed, over 355 aboriginal teachers will be working in NWT schools.

However, more work is needed to make sure the number of northern teachers continues to grow. Grade extensions and stay-in-school initiatives have resulted in more students staying in school longer and, as a result, more teachers are needed. The new Education Act and Regulations also require teachers to continue working toward their Bachelor of Education degrees.

A Strategy for Teacher Education in the Northwest Territories for 1999 to 2005 sets new goals to increase the number of aboriginal teachers in Nunavut and the western Arctic. Right now, 36 percent of the teachers in Nunavut are aboriginal, while 18 percent in the west are aboriginal. The new strategy will help us move toward having 85 percent aboriginal teachers in Nunavut and 47 percent in the western Northwest Territories. This will result in a teaching force that is truly representative of the population in the two new territories.

The new strategy will build on the successes of the previous one. For instance, Teacher Education Programs will continue to be delivered in communities and not just at college campuses. The strategy also calls for a full-time Bachelor of Education Program to be established in the western Northwest Territories. It further proposes that Bachelor of Education courses be delivered part-time, so teachers can continue their studies while they work.

Mr. Speaker, the strategy also calls for the delivery of the Aboriginal Language Certificate Program to make sure our schools reflect local culture and language. Well-qualified teachers are essential to the success of our schools. I am confident, Mr. Speaker, the new Strategy for Teacher Education will help develop a teaching force that represents the populations of Nunavut and the western NWT, help develop schools that reflect local language and culture and encourage teachers to continue their education. Thank you.

--Applause