Debates of June 5, 2006 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with respect to the news item on small town students faring poorly on standardized testing in the NWT. I really raised my eyebrows when I saw that in the news of late. The Minister did comment on it. The Minister probably had more time to think about it and it’s a huge thing, because I represent lots of small communities. Can the Minister detail for me some of his outlooks on the report and perhaps even mention what type of plan he has to address this very pressing need in the communities? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, while we had hoped to see better results from all the communities in the Alberta achievement tests, the Member is right that the results themselves from the small communities caused us some concern. I think we were aware that we have in the Northwest Territories a challenge with literacy and numeracy and, because of that, we already have started to strengthen the program and curriculum to deal better with those challenges.

In a small community, it is more difficult to offer the breadth of programming and the level of service. Sometimes the small communities in the past have been challenged with…(inaudible)…with distance education, for instance. This government has moved to try to correct that for next year and we are hoping that over the next few years we will see a significant improvement in the numbers from all communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the standardized testing is something new that we are gauging our students in the North on. With the initial results, does the Minister have an interim plan, or will he look at some type of plan to address what the core issues are? I understand there was a small school report that was done three or four years ago. It spoke in there about classroom size and just the range of students being serviced by one or two teachers was an issue. Is there an initial plan or some kind of overview that the Minister will address this issue with? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will certainly be following up on this. We have had some initial discussions with the chairs of all the divisional education councils across the Northwest Territories. Since the report the Member talks about has come out, there have been some changes to the formula that is used to fund schools and the funding has been disproportionately increased for the small schools in comparison to larger schools in recognition of some of those challenges. We are planning to continue our work with divisional educational councils to ensure that we are delivering as good a program as possible in the small communities, but I would like to say, as I said in my statement on Friday, we have some good news.

While it’s not all great news coming out of the Alberta achievement tests, you have to remember that those tests are not designed for our population. We are not positive that they reflect our population, particularly in small communities where students may be coming in with another language as their first language. So we have to recognize that the best indicator of how students are doing is their teachers. The fact that we are seeing an increase in 34 percent of the numbers of students from small communities registered to write departmental exams this year leads us to believe that we are on the right path when it comes to delivering education in the small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another item that the actual article speaks about, Mr. Speaker, is that the challenges of the parents or single parents in the smaller communities helping their children. Is there some type of plan that the department would look at in order to assist our families back in the smaller communities in helping their children as well? I know that as more of our adult population returns to school, it just becomes more of a…students can look up to their parents and community more. Is there another way of helping our adult population out there help their children, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This, too, is something that I have discussed with the chairs for the divisional educational councils over the past couple of years. There are a number of different initiatives, depending on the community, ranging from elders who act as mentors or counsellors for families to homework clubs and assistance in after school programs to learn how to do things like homework and how to help out. So, yes, it is something that almost needs to be handled on a community-by-community basis. I know that from talking to divisional educational councils, they are interested in looking for whatever works. In some communities that is finding counselling services to help. In others, it is by finding assistance with childcare. So this is an area that, yes, all divisional educational councils are aware that there is a need to work with individuals and families to support parents getting their kids into school. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister know if these standardized tests compare to other jurisdictions like the Yukon, Nunavut or any other rural ridings in the other provinces? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 52-15(5): Results Of The Alberta Achievement Tests In Rural Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to be careful that we are not using these tests for comparison purposes, because we can’t. These tests are administered in our jurisdiction in a far different way than they are anywhere else that they are used. We don’t allow or don’t have the exclusions that are found in other jurisdictions, so that means that all of our students are participating in these exams whether they are on an individual education program or a modified program. In many other jurisdictions, that doesn’t happen. So we don’t have comparison.

These tests are designed for us to take a look at over time. This year, we have baseline information. As we get the next five years’ results, we will have an indication of whether or not our system is improving. That is the sole purpose for these tests. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.