Indigenous education plan released

The Federal Government has announced the launching of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Education Action Plan aimed at accelerating the achievement of Indigenous students in the country’s schools.

 

Under the plan, developed by the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs, governments will have access to resources to contribute to halving the gap in English literacy and numeracy and Year 12 or equivalent attainment.

 

Including targeting approximately 900 “focus schools” the Action Plan outlines 55 actions at national, systemic and local levels, across six key areas including:

  • Readiness for school,
  • Engagement and connections,
  • Attendance,
  • Literacy and numeracy,
  • Leadership, quality teaching and workforce development, and
  • Pathways to real post-school options.

 

Progress against the actions and targets of this Plan will be publicly reported annually and provided to education ministers to inform governments’ ongoing effort in indigenous education.

 

The Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers have agreed through the Council of Australian Governments to achieve six significant targets designed to close the gap, which include:

 

  • Halving the gap in reading writing and numeracy by 2018, and
  • Halving the gap in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates by 2020.

 

The action plan is available on the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs website at www.mceecdya.edu.au, or by contacting (03) 9639 0588.