Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [No translation provided]. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Aurora College recently announced that in June that they will be closing 19 community learning centres across the territory, including centres in the Deh Cho riding. Mr. Speaker, these centres offer many programs from basic literacy classes to courses at a grade 12 level. They provide adult learners with the space to complete high school credits, a place where instructors give in-person support, help people develop career plans, and help them make decisions about pursuing post-secondary education.
Community learning centres also put jobs in smaller communities, Mr. Speaker. They support residents who live far away from Aurora College's main campuses. Their location in small communities is in keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action highlighting the need to:
Provide sufficient funding to close identified educational achievement gaps within one generation;
Improve education attainment levels and success rates; and,
Respect and honour treaty relationships.
Mr. Speaker, these closures unfairly target Indigenous communities and will make education less accessible for Indigenous learners. Online learning does not work for everyone. Our people need more learning opportunities at home and in our own communities. According to the college, enrolments are dropping and there is an insufficient demand, but the 2022-2023 annual report shows that there were 489 students registered in their either part-time or full-time studies in small communities.
I understand the government doesn't make decisions for Aurora College, but the GNWT currently provides nearly 80 percent of the college's revenue. Small communities are not where you make cuts to education, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
