The committee is pleased to see the inclusion of funding in the amount of $1.638 million to deliver funded full-time kindergarten programming in the Northwest Territories.
Many district education authorities have already begun offering full-time kindergarten programs and have shown excellent results in preparing a child to learn and succeed in school. It was time to ensure that all kindergarten students in the NWT were afforded the same opportunity to develop the skills to learn.
The committee provided strong support to the Minister to advance this initiative by helping to ensure that the necessary legislative amendments to the Education Act were passed and by making our colleagues aware of the importance, and successes, of full-time kindergarten programs.
The Minister and department are to be commended in securing the funding to provide full-time kindergarten programming. It is hoped that we will see marked improvements in graduation rates and attendance in years to come.
Funding For Students Over The Age Of 21 Attending High School
The standing committee was made aware of the cuts to funding students over the age of 21 attending high school during the review of the business plans in September. At the time, it seemed reasonable to provide sufficient funding to a student for three additional years to complete
their graduation requirements, and the committee had no serious concerns with the proposed cut at that time.
Subsequent to the review of the business plan, the committee held a public hearing on bills and other matters in the community of Behchoko and heard concerns expressed on the ending of funding for students attending high school over the age of 21 and the efficiency of adult basic education courses being offered through Aurora College. We heard of parents and grandparents, who have decided to go back to high school at the same time as their children or grandchildren, who have ended up being positive role models, and by their attendance alone, a calming influence on all the children, resulting in a more positive learning environment.
The committee now believes it erred in not objecting to the proposed cut to funding for students over the age of 21 who chose to attend high school. The fact is, as a government, we would be expending funding on some of these students to attend Adult Basic Education. So does it really matter which pot of funding pays for their education? It's the results that count.
The committee will be pursuing further discussions with the Minister and affected communities and looking for ways to strike a compromise.
Capital Plan
The committee is aware that the results of next summer's piling inspections may require either increased funding or a reprofiling or delay of existing capital projects that are in the infrastructure acquisition plan. The first priority for this government and the department must always be the safety of our children in our schools.
Mr. Chair, the committee would appreciate being kept advised of the results of the piling inspections as they come in. That concludes our comments on Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Chairman.