Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [No translation provided].
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just mentioned that this month is languages month.
Mr. Speaker, today I want to address an issue that has significant implications for student success in the Northwest Territories - the practice of peer group placement in our education system.
Peer group placement occurs when a student who has not met most grade-level expectations is advanced to the next grade with their peers, supported by an education program plan designed to meet their learning needs. However, advancing students before they have developed essential foundational skills can create long-term challenges. Students who move ahead without the necessary competencies often begin the next school year at a disadvantage. If these gaps are not addressed, they can widen over time, affecting academic progress, confidence, and overall engagement. Students who repeatedly feel unprepared may withdraw, experience frustration, or lose trust in their own abilities. This loss of confidence can follow them into post-secondary education, where expectations are higher and greater independence is required.
Without strong foundational skills, students may struggle to keep up, relying on upgrading, or leave their programs before completion. These challenges can also extend into the workplace, limiting the careers they feel prepared to pursue, making it harder to meet job requirements or advance within their chosen field.
It is important to note that peer group placement is not used in grades 10 to 12. By the end of grade 9, students must be prepared for high school, where progression depends on meeting course outcomes rather than age. This underscores the need for strong early intervention and thoughtful support through the junior kindergarten to grade 9 years. Mr. Speaker, our children deserve an education system that prepares them for success at every stage.
Ensuring students are ready academically, socially, developmentally, is essential for both their futures and future of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE.