Thank you, Madam Chairperson. It is my pleasure to introduce the 1999-2000 Main Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. These estimates are based on the business plan that was presented to the standing committee last November. They have been modified to reflect the concerns raised by committee Members. At the appropriate time, I will be making a motion to add the additional $2 million announced in the Minister of Finance's Budget Address for the Working Together and Skills for Work Programs. The total proposed budget for the department is 156 million dollars for operations and maintenance and an additional $13.5 million for capital.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has a broad mandate with responsibility for early childhood education, schools, advanced education, including the college, workplace training, income support, and culture and heritage.
I would like to highlight a few of the activities that will form the basis of our work in 1999-2000. I have already talked in this House about the work associated with the Minister's Forum on Education. Depending on the outcome of the implementation discussions with DECs, DEAs, Members of the standing committee and other parties, we will be addressing a number of the recommendations over the next year. As well, the work on reviewing and updating the strategic plan will be complete by the end of June. This plan will help set the long-term directions for the department . I am confident that, as a result of the extensive public consultations the department has undertaken, the plan will very accurately reflect the priorities of NWT residents and we can make sure our resources are directed to those priorities.
While schools and government have an important role in education, culture and heritage, we cannot underestimate the fundamental role of families and communities in raising healthy, happy children who are secure with who they are. It is said that for every dollar you invest a child with difficulties, there is a future saving of $7. As a government, we have recognized the importance of investing at the very early stages of a child's life. We are participating with all the other Canadian jurisdictions in the National Child Benefit. This initiative is designed to help reduce child poverty. The second phase of the NCB, which will be implemented in July of this year, will result in approximately $160,000 in savings from reduced income support payments. This money will be reinvested into the Healthy Children's Initiative. Along with some minor internal reallocation, this will allow us to maintain the funding for community-based programs at their current levels.
As Members have pointed out so clearly over the past few weeks, effective schooling is also essential. There have been some very positive changes in our schools. Over the past few years, both attendance and achievement rates have been increasing. Last year saw the highest ever number of high school graduates. Three hundred eighty-one students graduated from high school during the 1998 calendar year, which is an increase of 29 percent over the previous year.
While it is great to see more young people staying in school, increased attendance puts more pressure on the education system. We are very aware that the pupil/teacher ratio is high and at risk of going higher because of increasing enrolments due to people staying longer in school and higher than national average birth rates. Last year, the department was able to increase the funding going to schools to keep pace with these growing enrolments. This year we will be committing an additional $1.2 million to maintain the pupil/teacher ratio at its present level.
Adult and post-secondary training is critically important in the North as we prepare residents to take advantage of the many opportunities available in government and the private sector. In addition to the full range of programs offered through the college and in partnership with other organizations, we will place particular emphasis on the Teacher Education Strategy. This strategy sets clear directions for training northern teachers. There is also an additional investment of $1.3 million to enhance the training for health and social work professionals and almost $400,000 in training in the secondary diamond industry. As announced last week, $1 million will be used to continue the community-based Skills for Work Program. This program supports pre-employment programs by community groups, as well as adult basic education, skills development and community job training through Aurora College.
Another #1 million will extend the very successful Working Together Program for an additional year. Through a wage subsidy, this program encourages employers to hire young people. This program provides the employers with extra workers and gives the young people useful experience that will help them gain permanent employment in the future.
Another exciting area of investment in the coming year will be our information network system. We are rapidly connecting schools, libraries and college facilities to the DCN and Internet. We expect all facilities to be hooked up by the end of June.
One area where we plan to use existing funding in a new way is the area of language and culture. We are working closely with the language communities to develop a territorial language strategy that will focus on the preservation and promotion of our unique languages.
In a number of areas, we are working closely with the other departments in the social envelope. In the months ahead, we will be reporting on projects such as harmonization of income support and social housing programs, and a framework for an agenda for children and youth. The interconnections between our departments make this co-operation and collaboration essential to our success in developing and delivering effective programs. The activities of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment are extremely diverse. The budget before you reflects the broad range of functions we are responsible for. I look forward to discussing it with you in more detail. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.