Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue my questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on some of these Aurora College concerns that we’ve heard. One big concern that we heard was in terms of child care and daycare services at I’m sure all three campuses. However, the one where we met with the students was only here in Yellowknife.
What has the department, or working with the Board of Governors and the executive, done to address the child care needs and daycare needs of our students that are attending post-secondary education? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that was, again, brought to my attention with the campuses that we have across the Northwest Territories. More specifically at the Yellowknife Campus, and also Inuvik as well.
Since I brought this to the attention of the Board of Governors, they’ve been developing some options to deal with these matters at hand. I need to get the latest status from the Board of Governors. I don’t have that detailed information here from their organization, so I will provide that to the Member. Mahsi.
On another point with the Aurora College and speaking to the Board of Governors, in the Beaufort-Delta region we did have our Board of Governors representative resign last year.
Mahsi. Yes, unfortunately the board member resigned from the Beaufort-Delta. At the same time, we wanted to have a voice and a representative right away, so we did appoint Ms. Mary Beckett. She started January 23, 2015. It is a four-year term. So this is an agreement that has been brought to my attention as well. This individual has started already and they will be well represented in the Beaufort-Delta. Mahsi.
Thank you. I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure Ms. Beckett will do a fine job in the position.
Early childhood development has become a priority for this government and the onset of this government. I’m wondering if the Minister, speaking with the Board of Governors and the executive, is working on developing an Early Childhood Development Certification Program at the campuses, at any of the three campuses so we can get qualified early childhood development educators in the system. Thank you.
Mahsi. Aurora College is developing their two-year strategic plan, and the ECD programming, early childhood development programming has been brought to the attention of the president, the Board of Governors chair, because we are serious about developing programs. This is one of the GNWT’s priorities as well, ECD. So, it is in the works, part of their strategic plan. We’ve been pushing with the college. So we want to see this particular programming at our campuses. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that standing committee has been working with the Aurora College Board of Governors, the executive and the Minister’s office and dealing with some of these concerns at the Aurora College here in Yellowknife. I think it’s a great opportunity now, since it’s Aurora College Week.
Does the Minister have any plans of meeting with the staff and students at the Yellowknife Campus and just giving them an update on the work that standing committee has been asking the Minister and Aurora College in terms of dealing with the issues and concerns that students have brought up? Thank you.
I believe it’s very important to have that dialogue with the students, even with the staff at the college. So, when the opportunity arises, we’ll certainly take advantage of it. While we’re in session it may not be possible now, but definitely after session I’d like to meet with the board staff and also the students who are available to air their concerns as well. So yes, again, we need to have that dialogue going. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Hawkins.
