Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whereas the Department of Education, Culture and Employment confirmed plans to introduce junior kindergarten in all 49 NWT schools in the fall of 2017;
AND WHEREAS the goal of junior kindergarten is to promote the development and school readiness of four year olds with free programming;
AND WHEREAS, the importance of early childhood development is a value shared by professional and licensed programs across the territory;
AND WHEREAS, early development instrument testing reveals the greatest need for readiness exists in our smallest communities and these communities often have the fewest resources for preschoolers;
AND WHEREAS, the GNWT tabled report in February that reviewed the first stage of implementation of junior kindergarten in 19 NWT schools;
AND WHEREAS this report recommended that expanded implementation of junior kindergarten must take into account community context, strengths, needs and the existence of quality early childhood learning programs in communities;
AND WHEREAS this report also recommends the government develop a strategy in consultation with each community to address its unique early childhood learning needs;
AND WHEREAS implementation of Junior Kindergarten will jeopardize existing programs by removing four-year-olds from their programs;
NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment produce a plan to implement junior kindergarten in 2017/2018 along with a fully-costed budget for presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Development;
AND FURTHER that the department implement all the recommendations of the junior kindergarten review tabled in February;
AND FURTHERMORE that in developing an implementation plan the department acknowledge that a one-size-fits-all approach to junior kindergarten is contrary to the report's recommendations;
AND FURTHERMORE that the department tailor the introduction of junior kindergarten to each community with a focus on providing the greatest need to improve school readiness;
AND FURTHERMORE that the department accommodate existing community programs for four-year-olds without jeopardizing their viability;
AND FURTHERMORE that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Motion is in order. To the Motion. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
