Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 14/05) - Legislators are poised to introduce full-day kindergarten across the NWT this month - a move designed to jump-start students whose grades still lag behind their southern counterparts.

"Research... shows that (full-day kindergarten) can contribute to improved academic skills in the primary grades and to general school readiness," Education minister Charles Dent said Tuesday.

The Northwest Territories Teachers Association threw its support behind the government bill that would increase the 570 hours now on the books.

"There is a fine balance ensuring the full day program doesn't become too academic," Amanda Mallon, president of the association, said Tuesday during public hearings on the bill.

"Administered properly (full-day kindergarten) can provide a fulfilling school day for the five-year-old student."

The bill would actually help the law catch-up to several education districts - including those in Yellowknife - which already provide full-day classes under the guise of early childhood programs, Dent said.

Schools fund the full-day programs themselves and Mallon hoped the Department of Education would come through with more money once the bill passes through the legislative assembly.

"Full-day programs are expensive," Mallon said. "It is essential to (their) success that there be sufficient resources."

Dent said the government would look into additional funding, but cautioned there is no guarantee the school districts would receive extra cash this year.

Research from Edmonton public schools show full-day kindergarten classes help students improve their reading skills, said Mallon. The classes also offset differences in grades usually linked to the socio-economic standing of students, she said. However, there are no conclusive long-term studies connecting full-day kindergarten with better high school grades, she said.

NWT students trail their southern counterparts at the higher levels in science and math. Canada-wide tests from 2001 revealed 33 per cent of NWT 13-year-olds posted "acceptable" grades in math, well below the national standard of 68 per cent. In science, 52 per cent reached the "acceptable" standard, compared to 73 per cent nation-wide.

The government has made great strides within the last decade when it comes to the education system, Dent said during the public hearings.

The government legislation - officially called Bill 4 - could be introduced for third reading during the current session of the assembly, which kicked-off Wednesday.