Media release
Focus on Asia in our Schools
Tuesday 4 September 2007
Schools will celebrate the Territory's close links with the nations to our north over the next few days during Engaging with Asia Week.
Engaging with Asia Week, formerly Asia in Schools Week, is part of Education Week, along with Literacy and Numeracy Week. Teachers and students across the Northern Territory invite members of their communities to participate in studies of Asia through various cultural, literacy and numeracy events.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training’s Engaging with Asia Education Officer, Jennifer Ure said Engaging with Asia Week is an opportunity for schools to celebrate Asian perspectives with their communities.
"Members of the Asian community are invited into schools to share their expertise in craft, art, music, story telling and other cultural activities, and to expand students' awareness of other cultures," she said.
Malak Primary School's Mina McGrath was recognised with the Excellence in Engaging with Asia award at the launch of Education Week today for her strong commitment to integrate Studies of Asia and Chinese language in her early childhood classroom.
Malak Primary School Principal Paul Nyhuis congratulated Mina saying, "After a fellowship trip to China earlier this year, Mina brought back a wealth of resources, photos and ideas which she shared across the school.
"Mina's passion and commitment and the way students have shown interest in language and cultural knowledge is widely recognised in our school community."
Next year Malak Primary School plans to expand the Chinese language program to offer three Asian language options.
Malak Primary School was also very successful in the Engaging with Asia Art Literacy Competition with nine winners. Students from the Darwin Languages Centre, The Essington School and St Phillip’s College also won prizes. All winning entries are on display at Casuarina Library until Sunday 9 September.