Mr CHANDLER - 2010-10-21
The Territory has the worst school attendance rates in Australia. The annual report of the Education department states attendance rates at very remote schools are just 65%. It is from your report.
Dr Burns: Can you repeat that, member for Brennan?
Mr CHANDLER: Sure. The annual report of the Education department states attendance rates at very remote schools are just 65%. Is it a fact that thousands of school kids who are not enrolled vastly inflates attendance rates at remote schools? Is it not the case that attendance rates would be catastrophically closer to 50% for very remote schools if those not enrolled were included in this calculation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Brennan is correct. The attendance rate in our very remote schools is around 65%, and that is unsatisfactory; it is not good enough. That is why, as I said earlier, we will be releasing our attendance strategy within the next week or so, which is a very comprehensive strategy. It looks to engage with Aboriginal communities, particularly with parents and students. That is why I have convened a meeting of principals - the first one is in Darwin in approximately two weeks, and then one in Alice Springs - to discuss the issues of literacy and numeracy, and attendance, so we can move forward together to tackle this very important problem.
We are a government dedicated to turning this situation around. It does not have a simple genesis …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance: the question was in relation to enrolment, not attendance.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished the answer? If you can come to the point.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I addressed the issue of enrolment. The opposition has a predilection for almost navel gazing around the figures, around those students who may not be enrolled. It is acknowledged that there is a lack of engagement in our remote communities with the education system, whether it is enrolment or attendance. That is why, at one level, we have the SEAM trial – which I am very keen to roll-out across the Territory - with Centrelink payments being linked to school attendance. That is just one strategy. As a community, we have to convince those parents and students of the worth of education. It is a big job, but I am up for it.
Dr Burns: Can you repeat that, member for Brennan?
Mr CHANDLER: Sure. The annual report of the Education department states attendance rates at very remote schools are just 65%. Is it a fact that thousands of school kids who are not enrolled vastly inflates attendance rates at remote schools? Is it not the case that attendance rates would be catastrophically closer to 50% for very remote schools if those not enrolled were included in this calculation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Brennan is correct. The attendance rate in our very remote schools is around 65%, and that is unsatisfactory; it is not good enough. That is why, as I said earlier, we will be releasing our attendance strategy within the next week or so, which is a very comprehensive strategy. It looks to engage with Aboriginal communities, particularly with parents and students. That is why I have convened a meeting of principals - the first one is in Darwin in approximately two weeks, and then one in Alice Springs - to discuss the issues of literacy and numeracy, and attendance, so we can move forward together to tackle this very important problem.
We are a government dedicated to turning this situation around. It does not have a simple genesis …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance: the question was in relation to enrolment, not attendance.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished the answer? If you can come to the point.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I addressed the issue of enrolment. The opposition has a predilection for almost navel gazing around the figures, around those students who may not be enrolled. It is acknowledged that there is a lack of engagement in our remote communities with the education system, whether it is enrolment or attendance. That is why, at one level, we have the SEAM trial – which I am very keen to roll-out across the Territory - with Centrelink payments being linked to school attendance. That is just one strategy. As a community, we have to convince those parents and students of the worth of education. It is a big job, but I am up for it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016