Debates of October 28, 2004 (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent. I go back to the Premier’s address of January 2001, where the government-of-the-day was intent on showing northern students that they were valued, and I’ll quote, “We intend to guarantee employment to every graduate from a recognized nursing or teaching program. In addition, by the end of March, we expect to have a program in place to guarantee a term position to every new NWT post-secondary graduate qualified in certain other priority occupations.” Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is, since the Premier’s address in 2001, what are the numbers of northern graduates from the Teacher Education Program with Aurora College that have gotten jobs within the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say the exact number of teacher graduates since 2001 off the top of my head, I’m afraid, but I do believe we’ve had a very good success rate of finding positions for people who are interested in teaching the Northwest Territories once they’ve graduated from the program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m wondering if the Minister could supply the Regular Members with the statistics that back up the claim that all northern graduates from the TEP have gotten employment in the Northwest Territories and are gainfully employed in the teaching profession, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to provide all of that information to the Regular Members. I will do that within the next two or three days.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to hearing the response from the Minister on the statistics. I’m just wondering if the Minister is aware that there are graduates from the Teacher Education Program in the Northwest Territories that can’t find employment and that some of the larger district education authorities are still recruiting teachers from southern Canada in large numbers, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister aware of this fact? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of that fact. I know some teachers who have not been able to find employment. The Premier’s guarantee and the one that this government is standing by is one that a position will be offered; not necessarily in the community to which the person is interested in applying though. So we are convinced that the positions are available across the Northwest Territories, but not every graduate is prepared to go to every community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that, Mr. Minister. So I’m just wondering, and the Minister has spoken of the fact that they’re offered positions, but what is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment doing with the school boards in Yellowknife in terms of recruitment of teachers and why can’t some of these teachers that take the program that live in Yellowknife not get jobs in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 328-15(3): Teacher Education Program Graduates

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have raised the issue with the chairs of the two Yellowknife boards, but the department does not get directly involved in deciding who should be hired by which board. We make sure that all of the boards are aware of people who are looking for positions and are interested and at this point we are confident that there are positions available if teachers are prepared to take them, but we can’t guarantee what community the positions will be available in. Thank you.