Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment regarding funding for the implementation of junior kindergarten. The Minister has said that junior kindergarten will be fully funded, yet there are additional costs the government has not yet agreed to pay. Will the Minister provide an analysis of the additional funds schools will require to cover the cost of inclusive schooling for all grades starting with junior kindergarten, and:
Provide an analysis of the additional funding schools will require to cover the cost of busing children as young as three years eight months who need seat belts and extra adult supervision;
Provide an analysis of how implementation of junior kindergarten will accommodate existing programs that serve four-year-olds without jeopardizing the financial viability of those programs; and finally
Provide an analysis on assigning a subsidy to each four-year-old -- equivalent to the cost of fully funding junior kindergarten on a per-child basis -- for parents to spend on the program of their choice and a rationale for rejecting this option?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
