Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is Education Week. It’s very important that we give the Education councils the resources that they need to provide a quality education to our students.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment how much funding is currently provided to the Beaufort-Delta Education Council for the e-learning program and how much is projected over the next couple of years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The detailed information, which I can provide to the Member, I don’t have in front of me. The breakdown of the funding that the Beaufort-Delta Education Council receives on an annual basis that pertains to e-learning, I can provide that to the Member and also the forecast, how much it will cost the organization. It’s all based on the enrollment and also the programming. I can provide the breakdown to the Member. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the Beaufort-Delta could actually lose positions in the next school year. Given that it already cuts costs per student in the Sahtu and Deh Cho regions, will the Minister ensure that no positions will be cut in the Beaufort-Delta next school year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, that’s a tough question to answer, but at the same time, I as Minister responsible provide funding to the school boards based on enrollment. If enrollment goes down, unfortunately, the funding is less than the previous year.
However, e-learning is a very interesting program itself. My department has been working closely with BDEC and other organizations, how we can enhance in that area, where it can be a teleconference, having a discussion as opposed to having a teacher there. Those are discussions that we are currently having as a resource tool. I believe there is a plan for a meeting with BDEC. I’m very interested and curious to know where they’re going with this, and other organizations as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that funding is based on enrollment, but we need to ensure that it’s based on the needs of the communities.
Will the Minister commit to expand funding for the Beaufort-Delta Education Council for their e-learning program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this is an area that we are at the present point exploring. We’re seeking input from the general public, the stakeholders, on the renewal. Part of the renewal process is talking about the funding. Because it pertains to a small community, professionalism is part of the pillars, and there are six of them. I just touched on two. It will be capturing the small, isolated communities. The opportunity is here before us for the next business planning cycle. That is part of the process that we want to tackle. We want to complete that by this fall so we can put that as part of the business planning cycle. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
