Debates of May 28, 2004 (day 15)

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. My questions are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Given that the government's strategic plan calls for implementation of school programs that support indigenous language and culture, does the government's strategic plan include measures for the training and professional development of qualified aboriginal language instructors to teach these school programs?

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the strategic plan may not specifically mention that sort of program, but it is certainly one of the basic tenants of the teacher education program and one of the reasons for offering the program right through to the baccalaureate or bachelor degree stage in the Northwest Territories. We are anxious to see more teachers who are born in the Northwest Territories and conversant in the language of their community who have been able to go through the process and become fully qualified teachers with a B.Ed. to work in the North. That's one way in which we are strongly continuing this. While it may not be mentioned in the strategic plan, it is certainly something that has been in the business plans of Education, Culture and Employment, so it is an ongoing process that we continue to support.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Mr. Speaker, does the government and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have plans to provide bursaries and scholarships to encourage teachers to develop aboriginal language teaching skills at the college level?

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the college has an aboriginal language and culture instructor program which is designed to prepare aboriginal language teachers to deliver aboriginal programming in NWT schools. This is a program that is offered on top of the teacher education program and it can be supported through the student financial assistance program, which also offers access to scholarships, as well. We find that many employers are prepared to support their employees to access this kind of program, as well. So the answer is yes, we make this programming available to assist teachers to become better qualified, and we do support it financially. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister could clarify for me again that the government does provide bursaries and scholarships to encourage more aboriginal language professionals with teaching skills and just to develop the capacities that I know are lacking in the regions and the communities. If the Minister can provide that answer for me. Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We don't have a program of scholarships and bursaries that are specifically limited to teachers who want to take this kind of upgrading or training. There is, however, a fairly large pot of money, which is part of the collective agreement with the NWTTA, that is available for teachers for upgrading purposes. What has been found to work best with courses like the aboriginal language and culture programming is part-time delivery in the regions, so that it can be delivered close to the workplace. Often this kind of upgrading doesn't require a huge investment of time or money on the part of the teacher. But if the teacher were to sign up for a full-time instruction course and were to take time off to do it, they would qualify for support. If they have gone to school in the Northwest Territories, they would qualify for student financial assistance if they weren't able to access the professional development funding that is part of the collective agreement. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one further point on that is I was saying language and culture are very important to our government. Is the department looking at providing incentives and bursaries or a new initiative to reach out to our teachers to say, look, this is important to us, here are additional bursaries and scholarships that are available to you, rather that to just access the current pool but to create a larger pool of aboriginal language instructors for the North and our students? Mahsi cho.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 169-15(3): Qualified Language Instructors In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly discuss this further with the Member. It is my impression that we do offer that kind of support, if it's necessary, right now. If the Member has examples where he feels we are not following through, I would like to hear about them. So I will commit to discussing with the Member his recommendation and we'll take it from there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.