Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, we have to go through the process. We’re re-evaluating a program, inclusive schooling. Based on that, there’s going to be a business planning process. In the meantime, we’re continuing to work with what we have in our budget, but rest assured that these are some of the changes that we’ll probably foresee within inclusive schooling, based on what we’ve heard from the general public, the professionals and the educators, and then we’ll come back to the standing committee to update them on the status. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Through our engagement and also visiting communities we’ve been hearing about inclusive schooling, how can we best address the special needs in our schools, how can we have a speech therapist and other professions in our schools, how can we provide support. So based on that, and we’re doing a comprehensive review, and that will address what the Member is alluding to. So I am looking forward to the outcome of the project itself, and it is comprehensive, it will take some time, but it will make some changes to our educational system. Mahsi.

We’ve done some of the research throughout the other jurisdictions. It varies. There is different programming in other jurisdictions. Some sponsor students through various grades one on one, individual assessments. They do a student assessment. In the Northwest Territories we use a different approach. The whole comprehensive, I want to listen to the people. Especially the educators, the parents are involved, how we can upgrade or enhance our existing programming. Those are some of the fundamental changes we can foresee. We are doing a lot of research with other jurisdictions. We have contacts...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think there were three questions there. I can answer one of them. I do believe that we need to support our students in our school system. Mahsi.

Mahsi. That’s an excellent question. That’s the same theme, a common theme that we’ve heard through the elders’ gathering, part of the Early Childhood Development Framework and through the stakeholders, as well, also through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. How can we involve the parents, the grandparents? So now we’re developing plans towards that. Even through the Early Childhood Development Framework I work closely with Mr. Beaulieu, Health and Social Services, how can we engage those parents. So that’s a key factor in our discussions and the parents will be involved. In what...

Mr. Speaker, absolutely not. It was towards the early childhood development. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There are two parts to this within our educational system. First and foremost is the students-on-the-land program. I’ve given directive to the school boards to conduct on-the-land programs specifically. We provide money for that and it’s been very successful to date. So elders take students on the land, it’s all in their language and on the land, and in a classroom as well.

The other side of the coin is that educators themselves, through the access program, the TEP program, we’ve incorporated the cultural base, spirituality, as well, through the Behchoko Access TEP program...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This whole inclusive schooling, the funding that’s been allocated to the school boards is to provide services to those students that are in the needs of various areas within the educational system. We provide $26 million and $666,000 towards the Student Success Initiative within the schools. We continue to work closely with the school boards. Part of the discussions that we’ve been having with the school boards and communities is that we understand there are special needs within the school system. Parents would have to come and say to do an assessment. There is a lot of...

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, there are other programs that can support these ALBE students. We’ve done that in the past. Some students can qualify for three or four different programs. SFA may not qualify for that, but at the same time, the Labour Market Agreement and other agreements are out there that can qualify. Those individuals can qualify. We also work with the Mine Training Society that delivers, whether it be underground training or surface training and various training initiatives, HEO and so forth. Those individuals qualify for training funds through my department and other various...

There are various areas that are evaluating various programs, an external review and so forth. We will take those into consideration as well.