Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment. I highlighted in my statement an unfair situation, I believe, which exists within the Department of Education relative to students being able to challenge a French second language exam.
I’d like to initially ask the Minister what the rationale is for this particular policy change. Our curriculum is allied with that of Alberta, and Alberta made the change and changed it back to the original. We’ve maintained this change in policy, and as I’ve said, I think it’s unfair, and I’d like to ask the Minister why we’re doing this. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister responsible for of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There has been no policy change in the senior secondary school administrative handbook on this particular subject. The core French 30 does not exist anymore in Alberta. French 30 did not have a former exam from Alberta, as well; Alberta education. In no other subject do we or Alberta permit the students to challenge a course in which outcomes have been covered in previous level courses.
This is a particular issue that was discussed with the French coordinators at the divisional education council and the district education authority in June 2011, and they also agree with the rationale. We’re following with what the discussion that was agreed upon. Mahsi.
I appreciate the response from the Minister. I’m having great difficulty because I have looked at a policy for secondary high school education from Alberta and from NWT and they do seem to be definitely different in that Alberta both policies state that any student can challenge any course. I need to obviously have a better explanation from the Minister as to why what I’m reading doesn’t obviously jibe with what he’s reading.
I guess I need to ask the Minister again why, when I read the policy, I see that French immersion students may not challenge a French first language exam, and yet it appears to me that the Alberta high school policy does allow it.
This is this information that we received from the Department of Education in Alberta. We follow their curriculum, as well, and the examinations. They’ve also provided some information and also within our department working with the French coordinators that there were some concerns raised where some groups, if the French immersion students increased their average with a course where the outcome is already credited, how fairly are they competing against other students that are applying for the same post-secondary institution. There could be an unfair practice as well. All those are taken into consideration. We are following what the divisional education council has recommended and we continue to work with that.
I have to disagree with the Minister. I mean, what I’m hearing the Minister say is that we have students with special skills and we have students who are very proficient in French, and we are penalizing them. We’re not allowing them to get an extra course. For some of these students it’s the one credit that they need to get them into the particular course that they need and we’re saying, no, I’m sorry, but you can’t do that. Go back and take the whole course and then maybe you’ll get the credit.
I really feel that the Minister is suggesting that students who already have these skills shouldn’t be able to challenge an exam and get an extra credit. It is unfair and I really have to wonder if the Minister considers, and I ask the Minister if he considers it’s an acceptable way to run a department, to penalize students with special skills over those that don’t have those special skills. Thank you.
All I can say at this point is that I can bring this information back to the French coordinators at the divisional education council and work with our colleagues in Alberta, as well, on this particular subject, and I can get back to the Member on the outcome of that.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his commitment. I guess I would like to ask the Minister, if he’s going to consult with French coordinators, I would ask him that he also consult with parents. There has been little, to my understanding, consultation with parents whose students are involved in this particular situation. It’s one thing for a French coordinator to say that this is the way it should be, but I would ask the Minister to consult with parents and to consult with students as well. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I agree that we need to reach out to the parents, as well, along with the French coordinators and the divisional education council. We will do that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
