School attendance: Mr. Speaker, Members have recently discussed education in our small communities. The graduation rate in the Northwest Territories fell below 60 percent for 2022-2023 school year. The Government of the Northwest Territories 2022-2023 report notes that attendance rates are trending downwards across the NWT. Attendance is as low as 63.5 percent in small communities, and less than 60 percent of students attend in some grades according to the NWT statistics.
Mr. Speaker, we can blame the pandemic for these declining rates, but this has been happening for over a decade. A 2013 education framework document stated that by grade 4, the average NWT student has already missed half a year of school or two full years by grade 10. These statistics suggest that even students in small communities who graduate will have no higher than a potential grade 10 upon graduation. You cannot finish at a grade 12 level if you miss two years of school.
Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. Students need to attend school but in small communities, there are other considerations:
Busing and getting to the school building;
Fewer remote learning options; and,
The need to be on the landlord at different times throughout the year.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment knows there is a divide between small community and urban students. We need to address this barrier and get students in small communities to attend school daily. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
