Premier to address controversial junior kindergarten program

MLAssay they're getting increasingly frustrated with the way the Education MinisterJacksonLaffertyis handling the territory's move to start junior kindergarten.

Regular members have pepperedLaffertywith questions for the past week. They say the program requires additional funding and moving four yearoldsinto schools will have a negative impact on existingpre-schoolprograms.
Premier Bob McLeod will be speaking about the issue in the legislatureThursdayafternoon, but his press secretary's office would not say what will be in his statement.

Several MLAs confirmed they metTuesdaynight andWednesdaymorning to discuss their dissatisfaction with the minister's plans to move forward with the program. There were no questions about the programWednesdayduring question period.

Junior kindergartenis already running in 23 communities. Itis scheduledto launch in a handful of small communities as well as Hay River, Fort Smith andInuviknext fall, followed by Yellowknife in 2016.

Lafferty declined an interview requestWednesday, but has saidhe'scommitted to reviewing the implementation plans before the program goes ahead in the coming school years.

He has had the education portfolio for seven years and rarely does interviews.

Minister says he's looking for feedback

"Iwant to hear the parents," Lafferty saidMonday. "Right now I am just hearing it from the school boards, but Iwant to hear from the parents perspective, because what we are hearing now is 23communities with Junior Kindergarten is working fine for those communities that aredelivering it."

"Were doing what we can to reach out, whether it be the task force that weestablished, the toll-free number, the website, were doing what we can to reach out tothe communities."

Nearlyall regularMLAshave spoken about junior kindergarten this session, many saying they support the concept but don't agree with how it's being implemented in the territory.

"Its bad for thecommunities that already have something established, and its not enough resources forthe people who dont. Its a lose-lose all around,"said Hay River SouthMLAJaneGroenwegen. "You cannot move an initiative like this forward with no resources. I know I may berepeating myself, but you cant do it. You cant throw $15,000 at a small community andsay, here, invite all thefour-year-oldsinto your school program."

WendyBisaro, who represents Frame Lake, said there are alternatives to putting junior kindergarten in schools if the goal is providing a free service.

"The Minister can subsidize existing four-year-old programs to makethem free to clients, or he can provide subsidies to parents who now pay market ratesfor preschool or daycare so the program is free," she said.

Finance asking for money to cover junior kindergarten costs

This week, the Finance Minister introducedsupplementary appropriations for operating and infrastructure costs. This includes$375,000 for costs association with implementing junior kindergarten and $330,000 for infrastructure upgrades related to junior kindergarten in schools in Fort McPherson,TuktoyaktukandColvilleLake.

In June, MLAspassed a motion asking that the Education, Culture and Employment look for new money to fund junior kindergarten. At the time, Lafferty says moving money around within his department would cover the necessary costs. Cabinet abstained from the vote.

"It begs for me to say whether or cabinet does take what we're trying to do seriously,"said Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses Wednesday evening during the budget review. "Now we're having the government come back to committee and saying, 'yeah we do need that money.' Why didn't they listen to us the first time?"