Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to last year's early childhood development instrument, EDI, vulnerable children have challenges in one or more of the five areas of development listed in the survey. Can the Minister identify which of these areas of development are ECE's greatest priorities for small communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is really looking at supporting children for increased education outcomes, especially in small communities and across the territory, from a holistic sense. And so that's everything from ensuring that we are doing certifications for early learning and childhood operators, so our daycare and day home operators, and ensuring they have the supports they need when they're supporting our children from zero to age 4. Implementing the BC curriculum, and so that is our school aged children, from there. And even pieces like implementing and continuing to evolve and grow our school-based mental health and wellness program. And so there's multiple instruments at play here. We are at a time of transition within the education system of the Northwest Territories. But I absolutely hear the Member, and I appreciate her bringing education to the floor of this House repetitively. We need to have this conversation here on the importance of education in our communities and in our homes. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, she didn't answer my questions. There was physical and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language, numbers, and etcetera. But anyways, I will go on to a second question.
Can the Minister explain why twice as many students are listed as vulnerable for small communities when compared to Yellowknife? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd love the opportunity to sit down and discuss in great lengths and details why the differences exist for small communities. There's often been differences that exist between our cities, our regional centres, and our small communities, and the efforts that are at play here in order to increase the equity between them. It exists in the programs that I have laid out here and in the increased supports. So one of those increased supports as well is affording training to classroom assistants to ensure that in small communities the people who are on the ground that are supporting students have the training and the supports that they need to be able to turn around and afford those to students to increase the education outcomes that we're seeing across the territory. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need more money for program and services in small communities.
Mr. Speaker, 2023-2024 EDI surveys -- is the 2023-2024 EDI survey available, and if it is, when will it be released by the Department of ECE? Is it getting better for small communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the information of dates at my disposal or at my fingertips right at this time, but I would be happy to follow up with the department and ensure that I get that back to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to ask the Minister if the Minister can make a commitment to come and visit Tlicho region, to visit some of the schools that needs a lot of help, that we need a lot of program and services, if the Minister can come and visit our school in the near future? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every moment that I have had the opportunity to spend in the Tlicho region has been nothing short of incredibly rewarding. I appreciate the time that the Member has invited me and I have gone, and I would absolutely love to accept. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
