Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement earlier, my questions are directed to the Minister of Education. My first question, Mr. Speaker, is: my constituents are concerned about the low student achievements in the Sahtu. Indigenous government leaders in the region are interested in working more closely with ECE and other education bodies towards improving education achievement and outcomes. What is the department willing to commit to in regards to engaging with local leadership on the direction of education in the region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that most people know by now, after four years, that I try to consult with stakeholders as much as possible. I believe that the best service is done when we do work together, in all honesty. That's not just in this House; that means with everybody.
Indigenous governments actually have a real role in education. As we move towards self-governments, they have even more and more of a role. They have the right to actually draw down education. I think we have an obligation within GNWT to actually work with them and to actually provide the supports. I know that within the Sahtu, there was a change in superintendent there. My understanding is that the Aboriginal governments want more feedback.
I know that the Sahtu District Education Council has put out an offer to meet with them more, to engage them more in planning. I am watching it carefully, and I support that. I actually asked that they would do that. I am urging all district education councils out there. It is time. It is time to start engaging with our Aboriginal governments. It is time to start working better. They have a right. They have a concern.
We can't solve this on our own. We need to have more. Everybody needs to be at the table. As far as I am concerned, we need to engage with Aboriginal governments more in regards to our education services.
Thanks to the Minister for the answer, assurances of collaboration and partnership and working together, which leads me to my next question: I am aware of the education initiatives which are in place to support student achievements. Yet, one measurable, graduation rates, continue to be lower than other parts of the jurisdiction of Canada. Is it possible to conduct a review of education in the Sahtu to better understand what is needed to support our students and families?
We have three weeks left in this Assembly. I am not going to make big commitments to actually doing more projects. I recognize that we have to leave room for the other ones. I can't commit to doing a full review of education in the Sahtu. What I can say, though, is that it is needed. It is not only needed in the Sahtu. It is needed right across the Northwest Territories. I don't know who will be in the House, but I am hopeful that one of the Regular MLAs or Cabinet will actually grab this the Assembly and bring it forward because I think it is time.
It is time that our whole Education Act and our whole system was looked at with the understanding that self-government have the right to draw down. Indigenous governments have the right to have a say in how their services are provided to the people. I do think that we have to look at the structure. We have to look at the act in the next Assembly would be my preference, to make sure that we are engaging as appropriate.
Thanks to the Minster for the response. My third question is: what actions are temporarily being done for the department to transition education or improvements, recognizing the gaps to the 19th Assembly?
As stated, again, we can't really say what the 19th Assembly will take on. That is not our role, but I am hopeful that education will be on the priority list for the next Assembly. We need to work better. We are failing at our children. Our graduation rates are low. Our early developmental index is coming in low. It is not okay. Our children are our future. We keep saying that. If we really believe that as a society, we have to put our energy, we have to put resources behind that and the next government has to focus more on that.
I just recently learned, actually, that not all district education authorities actually have long-term plans. Some of them just have annual plans. That is not okay. How can you actually do a strategic plan if you don't have long-term plans? We have a lot of work to do. I am the first to admit that. Every day I come across, I am finding more and more issues. I am hoping that education will take a strong focus in the next Assembly. If I am here or any Members are here, please put it forward on the priorities because we need to do better. We can do better. We need to do better. Children are our future. We owe it to them.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the response from the Minister. This leads me to my last question. We did a number of consultations these past summer months, in particular, a conference forum we had with the leadership of the Sahtu and Deline, at which time, we had learned a number of weaknesses and gaps in the current delivery system.
Recognizing those weaknesses or needs for improvement, will the Minister commit to issuing a letter or issuing a suggestion in a transitional report from the department to the 19th Assembly to have the 19th Assembly revisit the reform of the Education Act so it will be brought up to today's standards compared to its incorporation back in 1996? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
I am hoping that, again, at least some of us will get elected again. I am hoping that the new Members will see it as a role. I am not 100 percent sure. If I could actually put it in the transition report, I would be more than willing to commit to doing that, but I am not 100 percent sure if I can at this time. What I will say is that I will stress it with our department and ask the department to bring it forward to the next Minister and share my concerns.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
