Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Delivering Equitable Education Services to Small Communities in the Northwest Territories.
In response to the Office of the Auditor General 2020 report on Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education in the Northwest Territories, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment committed to actions toward improving student outcomes in the NWT. It has been two years since ECE responded to the auditor general's recommendations and committed to take action to support schools in small communities and ensure students in the territory have an equitable learning experience. I submit the following questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment:
1. How does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment identify what is required to provide equitable access to quality education for all students in the Northwest Territories and provide the approach chosen and identify the applicable policy documents;
2. What action has the Department of Education, Culture and Employment taken since the 2020 auditor general report to support schools in small communities and ensure students in the territory have an equitable learning experience, indicating which actions are on hold and delayed, providing the reasons for the status, and indicating the partners involved and the amount spent or planned to be spent by activity;
3. How does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment know that it meets students' needs in small communities, including needs for specialist services; how are the needs identified, measured, monitored and reported; and what are barriers and problems in data collection;
4. How is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment considering the socioeconomic diversity and residential school legacy in small communities in its approaches to providing education services and collaborating with communities, explaining which actions, services, and funds are explicitly targeting small communities and the distinct socioeconomic situations and legacies; for example, are actions like providing food allowances or liaising with Housing NWT considered; and
5. Has the Department considered designing a targeted approach to improving student outcomes in small communities within a set timeline that may include partnerships and allocate funds to support students based on needs; and if yes, will that approach be actioned upon, and if not, why not?
Thank you.
