Mahsi, Madam Chair. I’d like to thank the Members for their hindsight of all the discussion that’s been taking place, even the three communities that we’ve talked about and even beyond that. Even thanking the students that have been actively engaged. It does take courage for these students to stand up and speak their mind, so I’d like to thank them for that as well.
I totally agree with the Members when they say this is the first step, an NWT safe schools plan. We also need partnerships, building on our success, the program that is being delivered. I agree with all those, and the code of conduct that is in play. It has been raised that it’s a societal issue. It is a society issue, bullying. In my role as the Education Minister, I’m responsible for the schools. Members indicated that this is the first step. We will do what we can with the school boards, DEAs and DECs to make this a very successful project in their schools.
We’re fully aware of the societal issue, so I will be working closely with the Justice department. They do work closely with federal legislation, as well, on the cyber-bullying and other legislation that is out there. This is an area that we will continue to push further to deal with the societal issue.
We’ve heard a few recommendations in areas such as mandatory counselling, restorative justice or a sentencing circle. Just some of the key areas that have been highlighted, and those are the discussions that we will be having with the DEAs and DECs, along with the NWTTA, and several of the interdepartmental discussions that we’ll be having.
Another area that, again, we talked about is involving stakeholders. We have done that in January 2013. TCSA and all DECs and DEAs have been involved. We formed a group at that time. NWTTA is part of that, Justice, Health and Social Services, MACA, NWT Human Rights Commission. That has been established. Just recently, in May 2013, we introduced amendments to the Education Act and also completed the territorial safe schools action plan. This is the hard work of the members, and also all the DEAs and DECs. All the partners that I’ve identified, I’d like to thank them for that as well.
The education awareness, it is an area that will be a prime focus, especially for the students. We want to utilize their expertise. The students will be developing videos, the media, education awareness to showcase to the community, to their schools and to the regions that they cannot accept bullying
anymore. It’s not allowed in their schools, in their communities in the Northwest Territories. So those students will be innovative in crafting up those videos.
Mr. Chair, again, I agree with the Members about providing support for teachers so they can be prepared to deal with these bullying issues. We will be providing resources, training for these teachers and other professions so they can be prepared to deal with that. One of the areas is elders in school. Member Yakeleya referred to having respect put back into school again. So this is an area where we think elders can provide a lot of respect, so that’s what we initiated and it’s in schools right now.
I agree; we need to help the students. Mr. Chair, those are some of the key areas that the Members have identified and we definitely will be moving forward on this with the school boards and all the partners identified. We will keep Members up to speed as we move forward on the progression plans. Mahsi.