Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Member for bringing forward the proposed amendments. I also believe that a detailed thorough evaluation of the STIP pilot project is critical to ensuring it is successful in achieving our goals of improved students outcomes by providing teachers with time to focus on developing their instructional practises. This is why I publicly committed to share the evaluation framework with Standing Committee on Social Developments before the end of the school year and to continue working with the committee over the source of the three-year pilot.
I have also committed to providing regular public updates on the implementation, monitoring, and outcomes of STIP. This evaluation will not be conducted by the Department on its own. Instead, it will be jointly conducted by the STIP committee made up of residents from the NWT Superintendents' Association, the NWT Teachers' Association, and the Department of Culture, Education, and Employment. The STIP committee is an unprecedented collaboration between government, school board, and the teachers' association and collectively represents the education experts of our territory.
As we look to go forward with implementing STIP, we anticipate having all 49 NWT schools taking part and trialling their own unique school calendars. Already, each proposed calendar has been carefully vetted by the STIP committee before approval. We are under no illusions that all calendars will be equally successful. We will learn from each example, and schools will actively share their success and areas for improvement.
Mr. Chair, given the complexity of this initiative and the many ways it will evolve over the next three years, I strongly believe that STIP committee is in the best position to review this initiative, and as a result, Cabinet is not in a position to support this motion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.