Wendy Bisaro

Thank you. Committee, I will open the floor to general comments on the Department of Education. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Guy.

Madam Chair, thanks to the Minister for the information. I look forward to hearing what the department has to say when we have our briefing.

My other question here has to do with data collection. It is an area where I think the department has been roundly criticized quite often for, for not being accountable or not forcing education authorities to be accountable. I think it is an area in which the department is lacking. I say that not to say that the department is doing a bad job, but I don’t think the department has the personnel that is required to do the data collection that is needed for us...

Thank you. Is committee agreed to witnesses coming into the House?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Abernethy, to the report.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have to confess that I’m quite conflicted by this motion. As a teacher I understand the rationale behind the motion, but I have great difficulty in supporting the motion as it’s written.

I actually lived through the implementation of the Inclusive Schooling Policy many years ago and it was hotly contested at the time. Teachers were not totally in support. It was probably 50/50. At the time we had classrooms where students were pulled out, special students were pulled out and were taught separate from other students. I don’t support that. I think students should be...

Thank you, committee. Thank you, Minister. Thank you to your officials. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses from the Chamber?

Alright, committee. We will move on. The next department is Education, section 10. I would like to ask the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Lafferty, do you have any opening remarks?

Page 7-23, Public Works and Services, activity summary, petroleum products, operations expenditure summary, $2.134 million. Mr. Bromley.

Great, thanks for the answer. That makes sense. One of the things that has occurred to me – and I’ve expressed this in my opening comments about the difference in the standards or levels of education that students achieve depending upon where they live and what school they attend – is that high school students in particular probably don’t take the high school courses that they need to get themselves into post-secondary institutions because I don’t think they understand, nor do their parents understand, courses that are required for them to get into a post-secondary course or institution.

One of...

Thank you. Anything further on page 7-26? Information item, Technology Service Centre (Chargeback). We will move on. Page 7-27, information item, Technology Service Centre (Chargeback), active positions. Seeing no questions, page 7-28, information item, Public Stores Revolving Fund. Seeing no questions, we will move on to page 7-30, information item, Petroleum Products Revolving Fund. Seeing no questions, I will move on to page 7-31, information item, Petroleum Products Revolving Fund, active positions. Page 7-32, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Page 7-33, information...