Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Trout Lake school Member’s statement earlier this afternoon. During my last visit to Trout Lake and with the recent letter received, they have indicated that parents and council, the chief has indicated that the Charles Tetcho School is too small. This fiscal year alone, there are 19 students listed in the morning, and in the afternoon there are 16 students. There is a big open class. I have always said it is like the one-room school. There are too many distractions from the kindergarten class all the way up to the Grade 9 students, as well as the lack of storage room. I have been raising this issue for years. I would like to ask the Minister of Education what has the Education Minister done to get the Trout Lake school project started. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake fits the criteria that we have right now. That is the NWT Schools Capital Standards and Criteria of maximum capacity with the 33 capacity within that school. Right now it is at 61 percent. As the Member indicated, 19 for 2011-12, so the school does meet the approved standard for classroom space and size. That is what we have currently, but the Member raised the issue on numerous occasions. I did address it with my department, how we can look into those areas of small community schools, distraction and so forth. We are looking into that as well. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, why is replacing the Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake not a higher priority for this government? I had indicated the original school had burnt down. This is a temporary placement in the community hall. Why is replacing the school in Trout Lake not a priority? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, replacing schools in the communities would have to be based on the standards and criteria that we follow, the Government of the Northwest Territories standards that we follow. What we have before us is the classroom size, the 33 students that can be allowed in the schools. Earlier the Member indicated 19. It is a 61, a 60 percent margin right now. If it becomes a major issue where we have 30 students in the classroom, then it is a major crisis, major issue that we need to deal with. At this point the capacity is not at the maximum, so based on that, we have to follow the standards that are before us within the Government of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that criteria works well if it is a school, but this is not a school. It is one room in the community hall. I keep impressing that on government. Why do our children deserve less in the smaller communities than others? I would like the Minister to explain that to myself and everyone in Trout Lake. They have to recognize that this is not a school. It is actually a room in the community hall. When will this government replace that school in Trout Lake? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, that is part of the long-term plan. The Member alluded to 2018-19; it could be sooner. It all depends on the situation in the communities. We are not excluding those regional, small, isolated communities. We have to treat all the schools the same. It is all based on criteria as well. We need to follow that. That is our Government of the Northwest Territories criteria and standards that we are following. We cannot break those rules.
This is an issue that we have encountered in the past where there is capital infrastructure that happens every year. These discussions happen on a continuous basis. Eventually, we will see that school, but it is the school where students are being taught kindergarten and so forth and higher grade levels.
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…recognized by our department, by our government. We are providing funding for the organization, the school board, to provide that programming. We will continue to do that until eventually there will be a new school there. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That eventual reality of getting a new school is why I am up here and been raising the issue for years and years. When will that school be replaced? You have ECE standards versus the substandard. That is my point. That is not a recognized school by that community. The government promised to replace that school. They never did. When are they going to do that? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the capital infrastructure comes on an annual basis. We can definitely discuss it. This is an area that we will continue to push forward in a small community. Depending on the size, again, it is a standard and criteria that is before us based on 61 percent capacity. I will be visiting the community of Trout Lake and see for myself, as well and other small communities, what could be done to expedite the process. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
