John Kershaw, the department of education's deputy minister in the province of New Brunswick, toured Eel Ground School this week in a series of visits to first nations schools in the province. Mr. Kershaw toured the school to learn about the programs and resources that band operated schools have. The department of education and band operated schools have been working on a number of projects to increase student and teacher resources as well as initiating professional opportunities for staff to strengthen literacy and numeracy programs. Combined with the support of the First Native Education Initiatives Inc. (FNEII), progress has been made over the past year to increase student attendance and retention as well as identifying goals for the continued improvement in students' literacy and numeracy skills at all grade levels from K-4 to grade eight.