Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we need to ask the question are we, the government, failing our students or helping our students. You choose. Mr. Speaker, I ask this question because it puzzles me to hear so many stories of how our students just do not get the education here in the Northwest Territories that is of the same quality as education in the South. I will admit that what I hear is all about one individual student or another, but over the six years I have heard so many personal stories from the leadership in the Sahtu about the failures of our young people, that I have to wonder, is this government’s education system failing or still maturing as we have only taken over the responsibility of education since 1969. That is 40 years ago, Mr. Speaker.
Right now, there is a young man who graduated from high school in the Sahtu who faces two years of upgrading to bring his education level up to Alberta Grade 12. Mr. Speaker, this young man graduated English 30, Phys. Ed. 30 and Grade 11 math and other subjects. How is it that he has an NWT high school diploma when he does not have a high school education?
Mr. Speaker, upgrading is going to cost him $32,000. The Department of Education will fund any NWT student for post-secondary education, but there is no funding to support a student attempting to upgrade to Alberta Grade 12. I guess there is a presumption that if you give someone a piece of paper called a high school diploma, they will actually have a high school education and that is the end of it. Shouldn’t the diploma mean that they achieve a Grade 12 education before we pass them and they leave high school? Mr. Speaker, how is it possible that a young person can graduate only one academic course? Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion about this issue in the media lately. What is happening in the Sahtu is probably happening in other small communities.
Mr. Speaker, this problem did not happen overnight and it cannot be fixed overnight, but it needs to be out in the open in order for us to create a solution that works. There are really dedicated teachers in the Sahtu, really good people that will help us on our task to provide quality education in our small communities. Students need courses that aren’t offered in their home community. We need them to get education elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, we have some young people -- and great young people -- who are trying to work hard and get an education. We must give them the financial support they need. Their education is a good investment. We will see a return on that investment as the young people return to the North as educators, lawyers, chiefs and doctors, even politicians, Mr. Speaker. We need to stand in front of these students…
Mr. Yakeleya, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we need to stand in front of our students as they work to achieve their goals. The future of our Territory depends on this. Let us clear the way for them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
