Media Release
Alice Springs Indigenous Education Strategy - Launch
26 November 2007
Improving school attendance rates and education results are the main aims of the Alice Springs Indigenous Education Strategy (ASIES), launched at Gillen Primary School today by Rita Henry, Executive Director Central Australia, Department of Employment, Education and Training.
Ms Henry said the ASIES focuses on improving enrolment, attendance, retention and achievement of Indigenous students, from early childhood through to the final years of secondary education.
“Improving school attendance and education results for young Indigenous Territorians is one of our biggest challenges and a high priority for the department,” Ms Henry said.
“This strategy aims to support and encourage young people to attend school regularly and complete their education, leading to more options for positive future choices.”
“It’s about growing our own and encouraging our young people to complete their education so they will be able to take up training and employment opportunities here in Alice Springs.”
The ASIES is part of the Workforce Development project under Moving Alice Ahead, which aims to develop a skilled local workforce with more young Central Australians employed in the public and private sectors.
The ASIES consists of nine initiatives and projects:
- Ready For School Early Childhood Project;
- Early Years Pedagogy for Highly Mobile Children Project;
- Enhancing Service Delivery in Schools Initiative;
- Engaging Families Initiative;
- Alice Springs Football Academy (Clontarf Foundation) Program;
- Engaging Girls Project;
- Partnerships for Success (Polly Farmer Foundation) Program;
- School Attendance Project; and the
- Student Transport Project.
“The ASIES initiatives take a targeted approach. They build on and consolidate programs such as the Alice Springs Football Academy and the Partnerships for Success program that are already running successfully in Central Australian schools,” Ms Henry said.
“The Strategy also develops new programs, such as the School Attendance projectand Engaging Girls project, with the overall objectives of getting students to school, keeping them on until they’ve completed their education and giving them real skills for work and life.”
Ms Henry said the development of the ASIES had been led by officers of the Indigenous Priority Projects Unit in the Department of Employment, Education and Training Central Australia, and has been strongly supported by a range of stakeholders in Alice Springs.
“I’d like to thank everyone who assisted in the development of this strategy, as well as the wide range of organisations and individuals who are contributing to its implementation,” Ms Henry said.
“The ASIES is a collaborative effort. Ongoing strong partnerships and commitments are essential if we are to make real gains in Indigenous education.”