Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our indications have been that class sizes throughout the Territories have decreased by 5 percent from
- 2000-2001. In Yellowknife, it has come down as well. What can be done about class size, Mr. Chairman? The funding process should be bringing down the class size.
What perhaps is not taken into account and considered here when we deal with PTR is the funding we put into special needs. We are adding more people into the classroom. Class size is a problem. If there is one teacher in the classroom, it is a problem, but if there are three individuals in that classroom, it is not as big a problem. That is not taken into account. The classroom space some people might find a problem, but I think we do live and we try to live by the standards that are set, Mr. Chairman.
I think Ms. Lee has been very on top of this situation for her jurisdiction.
The school board has a role to play here as well, Mr. Chairman, because I cannot enter into every school to solve individual school problems. I am sure that can be appreciated. The school board itself has to play a role in this whole thing.
As I said, the fact that we are now increasing the student support to 15 percent, it will add 3 percent more money this year into support within the classroom itself and support services for that.