Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to raise an issue about education that has been a great
concern to Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk. Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk was built in the 1990s to accommodate kindergarten to Grade 9. However, it was renovated to accommodate students to Grade 12. Today, Mr. Speaker, the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority is concerned that the present setup does not work in having students from K to 9 in one school setup. Many of the students utilize their hallways and share the same bathroom. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult during recess, because of what they have in IA, young students seeing the older students smoking cigarettes. Mangilaluk School does not have a resource centre; for example, a library. Many of the resource materials are stored in the room. This should not be tolerated because resource materials play an important part in education. When will Mangilaluk School have a library so that the students can find the necessary materials to complete their projects? Mr. Speaker, this year, the home economics room was turned into a classroom. Why? Because of shortage of space for appropriate classrooms.
Mr. Speaker, in Paulatuk, the Angik School was to have a Grade 11 extension this year. The Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council approved the extension this year. However, it was brought to my attention that the Grade 11 extension of Paulatuk was cancelled. Why?
Mr. Speaker, education throughout the Northwest Territories is important for our students. Without the classrooms and resources, we are failing our most important people: our students. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment needs to address the needs of our students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause