New direction for Aboriginal education, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 13-May-2011
An education initiative designed to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal students in Western Australia has been welcomed by Member for Mining and Pastoral Wendy Duncan.
Ms Duncan said the Aboriginal Network Schools initiative announced today, was part of the Aboriginal Education Plan for WA Public Schools 2011-2014 and would allow teachers and principals to work outside of traditional schooling and therefore better target students’ needs.
“The one-size-fits-all approach to education has demonstrably failed in many parts of Western Australia, especially where there are a large proportion of Aboriginal students in the classroom. This initiative will give teachers and principals the flexibility to develop programs that are culturally appropriate to their students and I am sure will see a measurable improvement in outcomes,” Ms Duncan said.
She said that only last week in Broome she was approached by teachers dismayed at the prospect of trying to engage students in programs that had no relevance to them.
“The Minister’s announcement should now inspire them to use their great skills to get great results for their diverse range of students.”
“In Western Australia today there is no shortage of jobs, especially for Aboriginal people, the responsibility of the State government is to make sure these people have the skills needed to secure and retain a job, and this work has to start from early childhood right through to post secondary,” Ms Duncan said.
The initiative will be phased in with a small number of schools initially chosen to be part of the program. The demonstration schools will start operating by the beginning of next year.
