Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. When we’re talking about devolution, we’re talking about resources, we’re talking about expanding our Northwest Territories, having our own power, but I think the most important resource is, of course, our people and our children and them learning as well. We all know, and it has been shown, that student performance in small community schools has been nothing short of appalling.
Can the Minister provide assurance that this education renewal will address these very specific shortcomings and what will they be? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy. Sorry, Mr. Menicoche. It sounded like a question for Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly take that question. The Members referred to how parental involvement can happen along with Educational Renewal and Innovation Initiative. Those are just some of the areas that it’s captured, part of the recommendations that will be coming forward and action plan. Through engagement with the Members and also the communities, regional groups, organizations, it is through their voice and input that they want us to improve the overall education system. So that’s what we are planning to do. In February during the session, I will table a document that highlights an action plan that clearly captures what the Member is referring to, and roll out the implementation. I am very much looking forward to it. We will be rolling out the program. Mahsi.
Straight from the record, as health and social services. The questions were directed to the Minister of Education. Just further to rolling out the plan, I will ask the Minister how he will be rolling out the plan in regions and communities. In my constituency we have six small communities and I’d like to ask the Minister, is part of the plan to go to each of those small communities and roll out this plan. I think it’s very important for them to hear from the students, hear from the parents and hear from the teachers that are on the front lines in the small communities. Thank you very much.
It’s very important that we involve the communities, the parents, the educators and the leaders of the communities. During the engagement process with the Aboriginal Student Achievement at the initial stage, that’s when we have the public forum in all regions, similar to what we have conducted with the education renewal process, engaging the parents and the educators. Once we start rolling out the program in six of the communities the Member is referring to, and other communities, as well, we must engage those parents. We must engage educators and the leadership, so we have to work through the DEAs and DECs. All those partners are involved and engaging the communities. That is the overall plan. I have to make sure that it’s happening, as Minister responsible for Education. We need to reach out to those individuals. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
I’m glad that the Minister agrees with me that it certainly is a must. I’d like to know when he rolls it out, I know they already have a plan and a strategy in place, but should there be some unique ideas out there, are the department and the Minister willing to amend their plan. I heard one parent in my constituency talking about what students are being taught is not what they’re expected to learn, which means that they are failing the Alberta achievement exams because what they are being taught is not the standard.
How will the communities, how will the parents, how will the teachers effect change as this rolls out, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
I would love to hear from the communities, ideas and suggestions on how we can improve our overall education system. We are currently at the framework stages and are engaging the stakeholders to develop an action plan. That will be tabled in this House in the February/March session. Even after that, it is a working document. We are always making change to our policies. We are always making change to our programming. I will be open to those ideas that can benefit the North. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. While I know it’s probably impossible for the Minister to be in each of our 33 communities, can he commit to at least participating in the roll-out at least once in each region or at least make as many appearances as possible? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
With the overall engagement of the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, I’ve been to every region, participating in two or three-day sessions. Particularly this one is very important to me and also working with Health and Social Services. We will be going to those communities and engaging those participants and sharing their ideas and suggestions, so we will make every effort to be in attendance at those forums. We are committed as a department. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Colleagues, before we move on today, I’d like to welcome our Information and Privacy Commissioner Elaine Keenan Bengts to the House.
---Applause
Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
