[Greens-Media] SENATOR KERRY NETTLE: Closure of remote Indigenous schools no answer to disadvantage

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

29.05.06

Closure of remote Indigenous schools no answer to disadvantage


Greens Education spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle today called on the
federal government to make lasting financial commitments to public
schooling in remote communities rather than back reports calling for
their closure.

Senator Nettle's comments came in light of the Minister for Education
Julie Bishop's remarks in launching a Menzies Reseach Centre paper that
has called for the closure of remote indigenous schools that are
propping up the viability of their communities.

"The Greens recommend the support and improvement of schools to address
indigenous disadvantage not their closure," Senator Nettle said.

"I am concerned that the Minister considers the report's findings as
sound, even though they recommend considering the closure of schools in
remote indigenous communities and the collapse of those communities.

"The Greens support the right of Indigenous Australians to maintain
their connection to their land and to continue living on their land.

"Schooling is failing to achieve better results in remote Indigenous
communities largely because these communities have been chronically
under resourced not because of any intrinsic unviability as the report
suggests.

"De-populating the desert by removal of services would simply be an
extension of earlier shameful assimilation policies which has resulted
in the death of culture and language of the First Australians."
	 

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146