Debates of May 9, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to send congratulations to all the Sahtu students who will be graduating from Grade 12 this spring and to the parents who have worked hard for many years to see their children to this point. Finishing high school is an achievement all students should be proud of, Mr. Speaker. A high school diploma should be a direct ticket to other opportunities, like universities and technical schools. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of our students in small communities. Although they work just as hard as students in the larger centres to get themselves to Grade 12, many of them are finding that they do not have the core courses or the skills to further to the education of their choice. These students have to go back to high school or to an adult upgrading centre, usually for upgrading, before they can get into a post-secondary education institution.

Mr. Speaker, young people are anxious to get on with their futures. It’s hard for them to postpone their dreams. How many potential doctors, teachers and tradespersons have been discouraged by this system or just have given up? We are letting down these students, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure our students in small communities have access to all the courses, in particular the science and math courses, and the chemistry and lab courses, that are requirements for many universities and technical programs. This means access to facilities like labs, as well as qualified teachers that can guide them through difficult subjects like chemistry and physics.

Mr. Speaker, we can do this, Mr. Speaker, and we have to because these young people are our future, our hope and, more importantly, one day will be our voice in our governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause