Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak on a very important topic and the overall well-being of society of First Nations people in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, the rate of absenteeism in our schools in the small communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious problem and the responsibility must be shared. The high rate of absenteeism is the responsibility of the local district education authority and the district education councils, the teachers, the parents and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, if our children do not attend school regularly, they are being deprived of an education that is so important for their future and the future of the NWT. We need educated people to take over the running of First Nation communities, regions and this Territory. Without this education, we will rely on others to come into the communities and tell us what to do.
Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that if a student misses five days a month, by the time they are in grade 8 they are two years behind and not ready for high school, let alone be successful in high school. Mr. Speaker, if our students are not ready for high school when they get to high school age, there is no way they will be ready for post-secondary education when they get to post-secondary education age.
Mr. Speaker, if the First Nations want to control their lives, they must ensure that their children are in school every day. Mr. Speaker, if the First Nations children attend school over 90 percent of the time, their marks are comparable to non-Aboriginal children in the school system.
We need a plan to address this issue. We need the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to work with the education authorities, educational councils and they will, in turn, work with the teachers, the children and the parents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
