Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Moses to the honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on October 19, 2012, regarding Aboriginal student achievement funding.
How is the funding being distributed to the regions?
ASA contributions are distributed to regions based on specific initiatives implemented in response to the ASA Education Plan. At this time there are three specific NWT initiatives that are receiving dedicated ASA funding: teacher cultural orientations, school community libraries, and regional literacy coordinators.
Teacher cultural orientations are funded for $450 per teacher and money is allocated to individual education authorities to use regionally or distribute to communities if appropriate.
School community libraries are funded through the NWT library services and funding is allocated through either the regional district education councils (DECs) or the community, dependent on how the community library is set up. Funding budgeted in the department is also used to provide support to, and purchase resources for, community libraries.
Regional literacy coordinators are cost shared with district education councils (DECs) and Yellowknife district education authorities (DEAs).
A breakdown of funding being distributed to each of the 33 communities.
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the 2012-13 ASA Funding Distribution. ASA funding is distributed to regional DECs/Yellowknife DEAs in support of specific initiatives.
Funding actually allocated to the Aboriginal Student Achievement committee initiatives.
ASA community working groups are intended to be voluntary and unique to each community, structured in such a way so as to meet the needs of that community, with approaches best suited to the local context. While standing outside the formal funding and associated reporting processes, ASA community working groups provide a place for the community to engage in conversations about student achievement and education.
Funding being spent by the department on their own campaign on the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative.
The department is funding two department positions, as ASA coordinator and a literacy coordinator, at a cost of $262,000 and is continuing with an ASA public awareness campaign in the amount of $160,000.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
