Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address Junior Kindergarten that the Minister has approved for our school in the fall.
The Minister has approved this with no further funding and lack of adequate space for the new program. How does the Minister expect to have our teachers instruct the students and teach them in a learning environment with no money, no space and no plan? Our communities throughout the North have commented in-depth regarding the Junior Kindergarten Program. We need an extra $40,000 to $50,000 to help implement the program, similar to the communities that have taken on the pilot project this past year. We need to have the proper resources to carry out Junior Kindergarten, but we need funding in order to help that happen.
Education is high on our priority list. One of our goals for this Assembly is healthy, educated people free from poverty. Our priority states: ensure a fair and sustainable health care system by investing in prevention, education and awareness and early childhood development. How can we, as a government, make these priorities happen without adequate funding? Our children need us to be their voice. Yes, we want them in school. Yes, we want them to learn. The most important time for these children to learn is in the early stages of their lives. I urge the Minister to please give us the funds and help us to implement Junior Kindergarten in our schools.
Order! The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
