Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to ask more questions on junior kindergarten. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that the first group of schools that started junior kindergarten rolled out kindergarten at their own expense. So $2 million was taken out of the school boards. Is the Minister saying that that $2 million is not part of the fully funded -- the term "fully funded" that's been used by the GNWT right now to fund junior kindergarten, that $2 million spent by the school boards is no longer in the mix? Is that the case? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, the $5.1 million is only money coming to this government to fund junior kindergarten 2017-18. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I didn't even mention the words $5.1 million. I'm asking the Minister, $2 million was put in by the school boards against their own judgment. They said that they couldn't afford it but the department made a decision that they would have to fund it themselves. I'm asking the Minister if that $2 million is part of the full funding?
As I mentioned, those initial dollars helped set off the implementation of junior kindergarten in 20 of our 33 communities, so it's ongoing funding from the beginning, the onset, and if the Member and committee would like a briefing on it, a detailed briefing on junior kindergarten, I'd be more than willing to do that.
I'm going to assume that that $2 million is not part of what the government is referring to as fully funded from the answers I've got. Mr. Speaker, in 2000, teachers went on strike. One of the results of that strike was a ministerial directive on inclusive schooling. Since then that inclusive schooling has been eroded. Can the Minister tell me what the initial money for inclusive schooling was put in place for and what was the reason that directive was put out by the Minister of the day?
Inclusive schooling, the funding is allocated for students who do need extra help in the classroom to offset some of the concerns and developmental concerns that we're seeing in some of our students. So initially it was there to provide assistance to help our students achieve better outcomes. So that's initially what the dollars were implemented for.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he would release up-to-date final summary documentation to advise all interested parties on how junior kindergarten is fully funded. Thank you.
Currently we've got information out there to all parents who are enrolling their four-year-olds into junior kindergarten. We're getting information out to the board chairs. We're meeting with superintendents to see the rollout of how junior kindergarten is going to look in 2017-18 school year, so we're working with the stakeholders to make sure that it's a smooth transition.
Obviously, we've still got to wait for some numbers of students who are being enrolled. As you do know, it is an optional program for schools, and they also have the option of a half day or full day, so some of the things that still need answers to. When we do have it we will share it with the House and the Committee.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
