Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on my Member’s statement this afternoon with questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I described the Finnish educational system now recognized, after 30 years of reform, as about the best in the world. It has some neat characteristics that really ring sympathetic bells with many of the Members, I think, because some of these things address the issues we still see as being needed to be addressed. I know the Minister has some of that too.
Will the Minister and his staff have a critical review of this system and consider what lessons could be learned and applied in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When I talk about the educational renewal, it does cover a broad sector of areas. There have been talks about educational reform, there have been talks about inclusive schooling, formal funding, small schools, the capital and so forth. So it would capture a lot of those areas, and once we hear from the general public, I will be before the standing committee. A lot of discussion will be taking place. Members alluding to specific areas can be part of the discussion as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Minister. So I appreciate that this will be a very broad review and, I’m assuming, the Minister replied with some interest in looking at the Finnish system.
Will the Minister report to the committee on the results of the review of the Finnish system and really work with us on a plan to adopt, fund and implement those aspects that we think are warranted?
I spoke earlier about various research that we are currently undertaking, because this is a complex document that we’re faced with when we talk about the renewal. There have been other studies. As the Member alluded to, the Finnish system that he shared with us. I can share what we currently have, but it’s all preliminary right now. Once it’s available to me, then I can share with the standing committee the updated status in due time.
I know committee’s looking forward to that offer for information. What I’m specifically asking, recognizing that this is apparently the best educational system in the world, they were where we are now, they moved to address that and now they’re the best in the world. Will the Minister specifically have his department look at the Finnish system and bring to us the results of that review and what could work in the Northwest Territories? I know social passing and so on, and many of the things that are brought up today are addressed in that Finnish system.
The peer passing has been addressed in the House. My staff have been diligently reviewing this. The Finnish system, there’s been research across the country and internationally. I will provide that information of what we have to the Members and the standing committee as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
