Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to our education system and my concerns that we are not providing our youth with the tools needed to succeed in life.
Mr. Speaker, eight years ago, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment published the Education Renewal and Innovation Framework. It was a tenyear strategy guiding the department's activities until 2023. The intent was to radically change the NWT's junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system.
In 2020, the Auditor General of Canada published a report called Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education in the Northwest Territories, which gave the GNWT a failing grade on education in our schools. The audit found that the GNWT needs to.
Better monitor the performance of the education system;
There are problems with data collection and analysis including graduation rates;
The GNWT needs to monitor the education authorities on their compliance of policies and accountability frameworks;
The department needs to do more to meet students' needs; and .trades should be a focus in schools.
The Auditor General made 77 recommendations and the Department of ECE accepted them all, including providing additional supports to principals of small schools and teachers of multi grade classrooms, which are common in our small communities.
The department did a midterm evaluation of the Education Renewal and Information Framework in 2018. The evaluation found that graduation rates are lower in smaller communities and that a considerable number of students in high school are not advancing to the next grade level.
In response to both the audit and internal evaluation, the department prepared an action plan to improve JK to 12 student outcomes in the NWT 20202021 to 20232024.
Mr. Speaker, now in November 2021 we are waiting for a proposal to modernize the Education Act. We are also waiting for
The labor force analysis;
The department's updated skills for success strategy; and,.
The transformation of Aurora to proceed to a polytechnic university.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, we know what the problems are. We understand that many NWT residents do not have enough schooling to meet NWT job demand in the immediate future. The 19th Legislative Assembly mandate includes increasing student education outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada. Mr. Speaker, I'm afraid we are out of time to reach this commitment. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
