Committee members noted that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, or ECE, had included $2,726,000 in the 2002-2003 draft main estimates to reduce the pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) to 16:1 and to increase student support services to 14 percent in 2002-2003.

The committee noted that the department is ahead of its legislated requirement to reduce the PTR levels in NWT schools and on target for the legislated student support increases for 2002-2003. Committee pointed out the positive results of increasing direct support to students in need in the classroom. Based on the financial information provided during the review of the business plans and the draft main estimates, committee members asked the Minister to consider taking $900,000 from the PTR and advancing the final installment of the student support services to reach 15 percent in this fiscal year. This would leave the balance of $1,826,000 to apply to PTR in 2002-2003. The PTR would then be topped up in its final year by $900,000 to meet the legislated target of 16:1 in 2002-2004.

In the government's response to the committee's request, it became clear that the financial information presented to the committee on the split of the $2,726,000 during the business plan review and draft main estimate review was wrong. The department now states that $1,600,000 was to be used to increase student support services to 14 percent and that the remaining $1,126,000 was to be used to reduce the PTR. Subsequently, the department's initial estimate of $900,000 to implement the 15 percent student support services was revised to encompass the entire $1,126,000.

Regardless of any misunderstanding, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight was pleased that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment agreed to the committee's request and that the funding for student support services will be increased to 15 percent in 2002-2003, a full year in advance of the legislated requirement.