Mr. Speaker, those are discussions that we need to have with experts at the school board level and also with our department. Those are the types of options that we may have to deal with whether it be zero to five or pre-kindergarten. Mr. Speaker, again, this is all too preliminary. We just threw out an idea so people can grasp of sharing some ideas or suggestions on how we can improve enrolment issues throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, part of the plan is to have a review of the Yellowknife schools and bring forward the review at the conclusion in the spring, then identify those two schools if there’s a priority to renovate those schools. One of them has been renovated already. Mr. Speaker, those are the types of important discussions we need to have for this fall capital planning. Mahsi.

We have to keep in mind that there have been renovations and major retrofit that has happened in Mildred Hall in 2005. So that will have to be taken into consideration as well. There are other schools that have not been upgraded due to various circumstances. So those are the discussions that we need to have going forward on capital projects for this fall. So, Mr. Speaker, the educational review will consist of the space of the schools and also the age and enrolment is a big factor as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is pleased to share news about the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative that we implemented to increase aboriginal students’ success across the Northwest Territories.

The department is working with superintendents, teachers and other departments and aboriginal organizations on a plan to close the gap in aboriginal student achievement. This school term we began work to increase student attendance because aboriginal students have a high rate of absenteeism overall. By the time they reach Grade 10, the average aboriginal student...

Mr. Speaker, we’re aware that some schools are providing vitamins to some students. Not only that, but the organizations that I’ve highlighted in this House are clearly listening to the Member and I’m sure they’ll take that into consideration. We, as the two departments working closely with these organizations as well, can take this matter into consideration and if it could be part of the nutritious food programming. Then, by all means, those are the discussions we need to have. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We trust the board chairs and we trust the superintendents’ information that will be provided to us on the numbers that we need to work with. We will continue to work closely with them, because we provide funding to them and there’s accountability attached to that as well. So, Mr. Speaker, on a going forward basis in April we’ll be discussing and we’ll develop an action plan from there. Mahsi.

Mahsi. We need to get the facts from all the education board levels. We are gathering the facts from our department with the superintendents of each school board. The Member talked about unequal distribution. So we need to identify that. What is she referring to? Is it just one school board that is saying this or is it all school boards? So those are the types of discussions we’re going to have in April when I meet with education chairs. So this is the important discussion that we’re going to be having and on a going forward basis we need to gather all the facts and also identify enrolment...

Mr. Speaker, I cannot, as the Minister of Education, dictate where the money should be spent on specific items. It would be up to the group to give us an indication and also the inventory of where there are gaps and that’s where we’ll allocate the funding that’s been identified. Mr. Speaker, it is noted that that will be part of the discussion that we’ll be having with the group. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this will certainly fall into play with the nutritious food that has been highlighted in this House, working along with my colleague at Health and Social Services with respect to what the Member is alluding to. In the past there has been some vitamins given out to the students. When I was at Chief Jimmy Bruno School back in the old days we used to get those colourful vitamins that we were taking on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, this can certainly be part of the discussion that the organizations will be having as an advisory group and giving us direction as this...

Mahsi. I think that it’s important to highlight the actual true facts that the school boards will be providing. We’ve heard over and over not to hire any more consultants. We have our in-house people that can certainly deal with these challenges that are at the forefront, but at the same time working with the chairs and also the superintendents and they have valuable information that we can certainly use. So, Mr. Speaker, this certainly will be discussed in the April meeting. Mahsi.