Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to bring some emphasis to a policy issue within the Education department, a policy which will affect the post-secondary aspirations of our high school students. I think Members know that the NWT high school curriculum follows that of Alberta and I ask why then do our policies not do the same.

Last September, Alberta Education, in a misguided move, determined that French second language exams could only be written by students taking those courses, that other students could not challenge the exam. Not surprisingly, NWT Education followed Alberta’s lead and we...

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Are we agreed to move to detail? Mr. Hawkins.

We are at general comments. Are there any other general comments? Is committee agreed there are no further general comments?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. I did forget to mention to the Minister we’re going to go through all general comments and have you respond at the end. Thank you very much. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you. Committee, I now open the floor to general comments on the Department of Human Resources. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he would like to bring witnesses into the House.

Alright, committee. We have finished general comments on the budget. We will move on to departments. Does committee agree that we will review the Department of Human Resources?

I have to disagree with the Minister. I mean, what I’m hearing the Minister say is that we have students with special skills and we have students who are very proficient in French, and we are penalizing them. We’re not allowing them to get an extra course. For some of these students it’s the one credit that they need to get them into the particular course that they need and we’re saying, no, I’m sorry, but you can’t do that. Go back and take the whole course and then maybe you’ll get the credit.

I really feel that the Minister is suggesting that students who already have these skills shouldn’t...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment. I highlighted in my statement an unfair situation, I believe, which exists within the Department of Education relative to students being able to challenge a French second language exam.

I’d like to initially ask the Minister what the rationale is for this particular policy change. Our curriculum is allied with that of Alberta, and Alberta made the change and changed it back to the original. We’ve maintained this change in policy, and as I’ve said, I think it’s unfair, and I’d like to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 3-17(3), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2012-2013, and would like to report progress and that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.