Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Background
Education system in the Northwest Territories
ECE is responsible for the Northwest Territories' education system from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. The system is made up of the department and 10 regional education bodies. These are similar to school boards.
The regional education bodies deliver services directly to students. The Education Act requires that NWT students have access to education programs that meet the highest possible standards and are based on the cultures of the Northwest Territories. Students may receive their education in any of the NWT's 11 official languages. The act also says that students have a right to access their education programs in a regular instructional setting in their home communities, and to receive the support services they need to do so.
Daycares are also licensed and supported by ECE, but are separate from the education system. High-quality early education programs delivered through daycares can help prepare children for success when they enter the school system.
About the Audit
The purpose of the audit was to find out whether, to improve student outcomes, ECE planned, supported and kept track of the delivery of fair, inclusive education programs and services that reflect Indigenous languages and cultures. The audit covered the period from April 1, 2015 to May 31, 2019.
The OAG looked at whether ECE met key responsibilities related to inclusive schooling, Indigenous languages, and culture-based education. They also looked at fair access to quality education, daycares, planning for and measuring the effectiveness of the education system, and putting in place key elements of the Education Renewal and Innovation Framework.
The audit looked at 10 years of departmental documents and data. The audit also tracked all students who enrolled in Grade 10, in a given year, to assess 3-year graduation rates.
During the regular audit process, the OAG works with management of the department under review. They get confirmation of management's responsibility for the subject being audited, an acknowledgement that they are using suitable criteria to do the assessment, confirmation that the department has provided all relevant information and that they agree the audit is factually accurate For each of the recommendations made by the OAG, the audit report also includes the department's response. Mr. Speaker, I now hand over to MLA Cleveland. Mahsi.