Madam Chair, thanks to the Minister for the information. I look forward to hearing what the department has to say when we have our briefing.
My other question here has to do with data collection. It is an area where I think the department has been roundly criticized quite often for, for not being accountable or not forcing education authorities to be accountable. I think it is an area in which the department is lacking. I say that not to say that the department is doing a bad job, but I don’t think the department has the personnel that is required to do the data collection that is needed for us to get a good sense of what is going on in the department.
I would like to know whether or not the Minister feels that the department is getting the data that it needs to evaluate the programs and services that it supplies, particularly in terms of student results. I know Alberta Achievement Tests are written. That data is easily captured because it is a universal test, almost. There are lots of other data that is required and the department can’t collect it if the education authorities don’t provide it. It’s maybe a sensitive question for the Minister, but I would like to know whether or not the department is getting
the data that they feel they need in order to make informed decisions and in order to properly evaluate the programs and services that we’re asking them to provide. Thank you.