Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr Krutko on June 28, 2000, regarding funding available for teachers who wish to complete their bachelor's degree or pursue other training or education.
The current collective agreement between the GNWT and Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, which represents teachers in schools outside of Yellowknife, includes a fund to provide financial assistance to teachers currently employed in the education system who wish to improve themselves professionally. Called the Central Professional Improvement Fund, it is administered by a committee with equal representation by the NWTTA and ECE. Each year, an amount equal to 2.25 percent of the gross basic salaries of all teachers in the system is designated to the fund. The fund for the 2000-2001 school year is approximately $504,000.
The fund has two components. Forty percent of the money is allocated to regional professional improvement committees for professional development conferences and workshops for teachers and principals in the regions. Sixty percent of the fund is retained by the committee to fund those teachers awarded year-long education leaves.
Approximately $300,000 was available to fund teachers on education leave in the 2000-2001 school year. Of the 17 applications received by the Central Professional Improvement Committee, five education leaves with allowance were approved.
Of the leaves approved, two were for teachers from the Beaufort Delta, one was from the Deh Cho, one from the Sahtu, and one from the South Slave. No applications were approved from the Dogrib Divisional Education Council.
When considering the applications, the Professional Improvement Committee looks for teachers with four or more years of continuous service as a teacher in the Northwest Territories, teachers completing work toward a first degree, teachers who have made a contribution to the field of education in the Northwest Territories, teachers with demonstrated support for school programs, leadership in the profession, community involvement, as well as letters of support from supervisors and colleagues. Previous professional improvement education leave is also a consideration of the committee.
In granting education leave, the Central Professional Improvement Committee is bound by the terms of the collective agreement. Teachers can also apply for education leave without allowance. This would give them the option of applying for and receiving benefits under the Student Financial Assistance Program. Teachers who are granted education leave without an allowance do receive some benefits from the Central Professional Improvement Fund. These benefits include paid tuition and funding for some travel expenses.
In the 2000-2001 school year, five NVVT teachers were granted leave without allowance. Two of the teachers are from the Deh Cho, two from the South Slave and one from the Dogrib Divisional Education Council.