Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to publicly state my support for Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Education Act.
First off, as a parent, I feel very privileged that my son is enrolled in a first-class school here in the Northwest Territories where his unique learning needs and education challenges are met by very skilled educators whose standard of teaching and professionalism is second to none in Canada and the world.
That being said, I have asked some tough questions of the department along with my colleagues who are full-time members of the Standing Committee of Social Development. Not everything that we are hearing from the department makes sense at this point. However, the principles that the bill stands for, which are enabling more flexible hours for students and also allowing junior kindergarten to roll out, these are good policy objectives. How we roll out the policy that is up for later debate and questioning.
Just for example, Mr. Speaker, quality education, not quantity, is really the issue.
More and more, we are seeing education systems adapt to different system that use less time. For example, Mr. Speaker, in Finland, one of our sister circumpolar nations, formal schooling starts at the age of seven, followed by only nine years of compulsory school. Students there typically start school between 9:00 and 9:45, and the school day usual ends at 2:00 or 2:45. Most importantly, an average Finnish teacher teaches only 600 hours annually, or about four or fewer lessons daily. The result, Mr. Speaker, looks like this: 93 per cent of Finns graduate from academic or vocational high schools and 66 per cent go on to higher education, the highest rate in the European Union. Yet Finland spends only about 30 per cent less per student than the U.S.
By contrast, in the NWT, only 67 per cent of students graduate from high school. The comparison between the regional centres and smaller communities is drastic.
Mr. Speaker, I do support the objectives and intentions of this bill. The teachers have been very clear in their advocacy to me on a personal level and also through their representatives at the NWTTA and their work on the bill with the government. I think it is the right thing to do but we need to make sure that it is done right which is why we have a very strong standing committee. My honourable friend, the Member from Yellowknife Centre, spoke of her concerns. I do think we need to resolve these before moving forth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
