Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Education on the Teacher Education Program. Mr. Speaker, if we eliminate the Teacher Education Program, I predict that fewer Northern students will study to become teachers. The department must have looked into that before proposing the cut. What is the department's forecast in future years for the number of Indigenous students studying to become teachers? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On average, we get about 29 students who enroll in Aurora College's TEP program. Over the last three years, we have also averaged seven graduates out of that program. Indigenous, non-Indigenous, we don't have those numbers right now, but we do support all Northerners when they are seeking post-secondary education. We also supported 33 students this academic year studying to become teachers in the South, in southern institutions. We continue to support them, and we are committed to continue to support financially, and support through counselling, and any support that the students in the Aurora College TEP program are currently in. We are committed to supporting them to complete their program by June 30, 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We are committed to training teachers and incorporating Indigenous knowledge in our practise through our pledge to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. How will we meet that obligation if we eliminate the Teacher Education Program at Aurora College?
I had a similar question yesterday when we talked about the social worker program. Our governments, our departments, through the JK to 12 system, run students through Aboriginal language and culture, basic education. We have On-the-Land programs. You have language programs. We have other programs that we are piloting in certain regions that focus on culture and awareness.
Over the last year and in the last government, we did implement a residential school Northern Studies training. We are working on developing Northern Studies that are going to focus on self-governments, land claims, and any teachers regardless of if they are Northerners or any Southern teachers who want to come up to the Northwest Territories, we do have a New to the North program that has a lot of cultural awareness in that program as well. Plus, we also run a teacher cultural orientation days that focus on residential schools, the history of residential schools in the Northwest Territories so that teachers, regardless of if they are Northern or Southern, have an understanding of how our families have grown up in residential schools, and understand the environments, and the communities, and the school environment that they're getting into. I believe that we are still going to be promoting that cultural awareness in all of our students that come back North for employment.
What was the conclusion of the most recent evaluation on the Teacher Education Program, and what improvements were suggested, if any?
The whole process of looking at reductions was in Aurora College. The department worked with Aurora College to look at their programs and reviews, and as all Members in this House know, our job is to make tough decisions at times; and sometimes, those decisions are not popular. After the reviews on looking at the programs, these two programs were selected and brought forth to this government.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister: what is the expected economic impact on Fort Smith if the Teacher Education Program is eliminated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We don't know that at this time. As I mentioned, this is a program that is going to be phased out. June 30, 2020 will be the last day of this program. In that time, we are working on developing a strategic framework and strategy coming forward that might replace it with another program. We are going to see what that strategic plan says, while we are also going to be working with the Thebacha campus on the next steps as we move forward. We cannot make any predictions at this time on the economics that this will bring to Fort Smith.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
