Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the ways that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has worked towards this Assembly’s goal of healthy, educated people is through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. Regional Aboriginal student achievement forums were an important part of this, with a final forum in May 2011. All the forums had excellent attendance and participation from the youth, elders, Aboriginal leaders, education authorities, and community leaders.
Subsequently, a meeting was held with Aboriginal government leaders, education authorities, and Aurora College to discuss the outcome of the regional forums. All leaders agreed on the four priority areas the Aboriginal Student Achievement Working Group identified as priorities that would improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal students.
For each priority all leaders agreed on specific goals. For early childhood and childcare, leaders agreed to develop early childhood programs, services, and initiatives to optimize Aboriginal children’s health and development. For literacy, leaders have set goals to eliminate the literacy gap between Aboriginal and other students. In the area of student and family support the goal is to provide some support services for Aboriginal students and families to help ensure academic success. Finally, the Aboriginal language and culture and resource development, leaders identified support for Aboriginal students to reach their fullest potential to become proficient in language and strong in their culture.
District education authority chairpersons and Aboriginal leaders expressed interest in annual meetings to further discuss the Northwest Territories education system and receive updates on the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. All groups agreed to meet annually and proposed signing an education partnership declaration. This demonstrates a shared commitment to work together in a collaborative manner to improve the academic success of Aboriginal students.
On July 20, 2011, all parties signed the historical Education Partnership Declaration resulting in a completed Aboriginal Student Achievement Education Plan, which I will table later today.
This is an exciting time of year with students getting ready to start a new school year in the next several weeks when they will have the opportunity to learn important skills they need for their future. It also provides a fresh start for those who stopped attending school in the past.
As leaders and parents, we must encourage all students to attend school daily, to work hard, to do their best.
This education plan is for our youth. Northern children are our future and they deserve to have the best quality, culturally relevant education system available to them. Through our work, all parties agreed it will take the combined efforts of many departments, youth, Aboriginal governments, education authorities, and community leaders to implement the education plan. Everyone has an important role to play.
Although there has been a significant increase in NWT high school graduates over the past few years, we still have much to do. We must ensure our graduates are well prepared to pursue their educational and career goals and to be active, responsible citizens who contribute to the economic and social well-being of our communities and our territory. The education plan and the education partnership declaration provide us the best opportunity for this.
