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CHAIR
SUPPORTS NEW INDIGENOUS
Chairperson Evelyn Scott today voiced her support for the Commonwealth Government’s new National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. The strategy aims to overcome educational disadvantages suffered by Indigenous children in a culturally sensitive and respectful way, Ms Scott said today. "Education is a necessary foundation for getting a job or running a business," Ms Scott said. "Without a good education, Indigenous people have restricted life choices and face a major obstacle to self determination. "The Council has always said that reconciliation requires practical steps and symbolic steps, and I trust that this strategy will go a long way to making the education outcomes of the Indigenous community comparable with the wider community." Among the goals of the Council’s own Strategies to Advance Reconciliation, to be released on May 27 at Corroboree 2000 in Sydney, the Council is seeking to address disadvantage in the education area. "The key to success is learning and working together, and this strategy involves governments, schools, teachers, students, communities and health organisations working together to produce results. "I believe education is the key to reconciliation, and I support the consultative approach that the government has taken in creating this strategy," Ms Scott said. Based on partnerships between parents, communities, schools and all three tiers of government, the strategy will seek to ensure that Indigenous students reach the same levels of literacy and numeracy as other Australians. The National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy will be launched by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs today at 11am. CANBERRA 29 March 2000 |
