Alfred Moses

Yes, I do.

Yes. I just want to emphasize again that the rollout of junior kindergarten is still optional for parents to enrol their four-year-olds into the program. It is still optional. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Strategy, 2017-2022." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As previously stated when this question has come up in previous committee meetings and public hearings, at the 12 to 1 ratio and the fouryearolds in the school, in the school building they will have access to other resources in the school, school support teams, counsellors, EAs, principals, so they will have more resources in the school system. Thank you.

When we look at the utilization rates, we look at utilization rates as they pertain to communities, so the utilization rate here in Yellowknife isn't as high as it is by the school. Obviously, we look at school sharing. We are currently in discussions with YCS now, how we deal with that utilization rate and the high numbers that they are getting. We have schools across NWT that also are at certain levels that we need to have those discussions. However, the utilization rates haven't reached that peak within the Yellowknife schools, but we are in discussions with YCS on how we come up with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned, we are mandated to run early childhood programs, according to this bill and this specific program. Those discussions would have to be made afterwards, but, as I said, this government is mandated, it is a priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly to provide early childhood programs throughout the Northwest Territories, and I do believe Members, with the passion that they have, understand the value of some of these programs going in our communities and appreciate the support from the general comments that were made around the room earlier. At the end of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, currently we have department staff that are working with the education authorities and the school staff to look at utilization rates, and to ensure that spaces that were developed when the school was made were actually being used for instructional time, and what other spaces aren't for instructional time. We are going through that review right now with schools in Yellowknife, currently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and yes, we can provide that information to the Member, as well as share with the Member when we do come up with a date to sit down with leadership in the Sahtu to look at addressing other education concerns and work on successes and how we can work together to address some of these education concerns.

Mr. Speaker, the four largest Sahtu schools that are in Norman Wells, Tulita, Deline, and Fort Good Hope all offer the basic courses necessary for students to obtain their Senior Secondary Diploma. As for updates on where we are within the school, I can get the specifics and share it with the Member.

On May 9th, we also met with the leadership with the Sahtu Secretariat. We did offer coming back into the community and having a more formal discussion on how we can work together to improve student outcomes and achieve student success in all communities in the Sahtu region.

Currently no, but I can assure the Member that in the 2017-2018 school year, the school in Fort Good Hope, Chief T'selehye School, has agreed to come on board. It is a great opportunity. We are seeing some very good successes in all the schools that we are providing e-Learning. It is an opportunity to have schools in the small communities be able to obtain and have access to higher academic courses that will get them prepared for post-secondary education.