Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Office of the Auditor General is in the Legislative Assembly to deliver a report on how the Government of the Northwest Territories is providing mental health and addiction services to residents. Mr. Speaker, these reports are excellent opportunity to follow up on progress made by our government.
Two years ago, the auditor general found deeply concerning flaws in the NWT education system. The auditor found huge gaps in the educational results between small and larger communities. The OAG report says this is a huge issue. Graduation rates in small communities are much lower than in Yellowknife and regional centres.
Mr. Speaker, not only are students in small communities less likely to graduate from high school, they also learn under more difficult conditions than their peers in regional centres. Students in small communities face numerous challenges that depend on the size of classes, teacher/student ratio, and overall living conditions. The situations may be different in each small community.
The auditor general recommended that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment "should identify what is required to provide equitable access to quality education for all students and take actions."
The auditor also noted that this action should include providing additional support to principals of small schools and teachers in multigrade classrooms.
Mr. Speaker, the department committed to large initiatives and investments in small communities in its response to the auditor general. Last year after reviewing the auditor's report, the Standing Committee on Government Operations recommended that ECE bring forward a plan to better support schools in small communities.
ECE's response does not do much to fix the problems that the auditor general identified. ECE "committed to working with education bodies" and is scanning the country for more evidencebased practice. This response is just a plan to make a plan. ECE does not need another work plan. It needs to take action.
Mr. Speaker, the problems with our education system cannot be fixed with legislative change alone. Many people have told ECE that already, including the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
ECE should stop working on making plans to make plans and focus on what action they can take today. GNWT needs to stop trying to fix the symptoms of the problem and address the real issues in communities. The biggest problems facing small communities are social and economic ones like housing, mental health and addictions, and lower average income levels.
Mr. Speaker, this is very simple. Communities with poor housing, high rates of addictions and low average income, have lower educational achievement. GNWT needs to get serious about fixing social and economic conditions in small communities.
Mr. Speaker, I am very disappointed in ECE's response to the OAG recommendations. ECE needs to spend a lot less time planning and a lot more time taking action. Small communities need more support and resources.
Having worked in education for over 20 years, I can say frontline staff feel like ECE is taking more and more control over operations. ECE needs to listen more to the real experts in communities. ECE needs to start listening to the people who work every day educating children. ECE needs to take a different approach to problem solving. GNWT cannot continue focusing on NWTwide standardization at the cost of creating disadvantage for small communities.
Every one of our 33 communities is special and unique. Our communities come in all different sizes, and each has its own culture and belief.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Education at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Just a reminder to Members when you seek unanimous consent to conclude your statement, it's to conclude it. That was like two statements there, but in the future keep that in mind. Be mindful of your colleagues that still need to go as well.
Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
