Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Last year the communities that took on Junior Kindergarten received about $45,000 each to implement that. Why are the schools only getting $15,000 today? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When we first initiated our discussion through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the early learning was a priority as part of that discussion during that engagement. That’s how we came about delivering Junior Kindergarten in 23 of our small communities. What the Member is referring to is $15,000 in one-time funding for every classroom to purchase play-based programming, so we need some sort of equipment such as a new play base, developmentally appropriate JK equipment such as mats, water and sand tables and educational tools. But there are also other investments as well.
The proposed plan is $360,000 for necessary infrastructure that we need to do some of this infrastructure into the school system and others as well. Those are just some of the areas that we will continue to invest in for our communities. Mahsi.
I agree with the Minister that early childhood is needed. Many of the communities, as Mrs. Groenewegen mentioned, already do programming for the smaller children from three to five. In the smaller communities I can agree that these are needed. For example, in Tsiigehtchic, which was one of the pilot projects last year, we don’t have daycares or early childhood programming in the communities, and that’s where I believe that those communities should be implementing Junior Kindergarten.
Will the Minister ensure that his department re-evaluates this program in the coming year? Thank you.
Mahsi. I’m glad the Member raised the profile where 10 communities are without licenced early childhood programming. It is true; we’re providing options for the parents to have access to this different programming. There are also other programs such as Head Start and other early learning programming in our communities and in our schools.
At the same time, with any new programming, any new implementation or rolling out of various programs, there’s always a re-evaluation of our situation a year after, two years.
This is a three-year phased approach and every year, obviously, we will be re-evaluating our stance, pros and cons, what we’ve experienced, where we can improve in certain areas. Those are discussions that we will have with the school boards, the DECs and DEAs as well. Mahsi.
Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister what are the plans the department has for the impacts on other programming in the smaller communities. For example, in one of the communities they’re expected to lose approximately seven jobs in the coming year. Thank you.
Mahsi. Due to low enrollment in our school system, there’s potential for cutback in those school contributions based on enrollment, the low enrollment. But we are mindful of that and this Junior Kindergarten is optional based. It’s part-time or full-time; it’s at the discretion of the school boards to decide on. I’ve provided the flexibility to move forward on this. This is an area that also compromises and works with early programming as well.
We’ll continue to monitor and evaluate our programming that we’ve initiated this past August, late August, and then next year will be the second phase and then the third phase. So, we’ll keep monitoring and make some changes along the way as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
