[Greens-Media] Greens call on Piccoli to make Aboriginal literacy a budget priority

[John Kaye]

Greens call on Piccoli to make Aboriginal literacy a budget priority 
 
Media release: 8 August 2012
 
The O'Farrell government must abandon its tight-fisted approach to agency expenditure if it is serious about closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students literacy standards, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Commenting on today's release of the NSW Auditor-General's report 'Improving the literacy of Aboriginal students in NSW public schools', Dr Kaye said: "The NSW Auditor-General has identified a total failure of successive governments to meet their stated goal of closing the gap.
 
"The report sends a strong warning to Education Minister Adrian Piccoli: put more resources into the system now, or even more students will be left behind as Aboriginal enrolments increase. 
 
"The Auditor-General savagely criticised the Education Department's ad hoc approach to improving the literacy of Aboriginal students.
 
"Aboriginal students and their communities have been the victim of a complete absence of the political leadership required to ensure that the bureaucracy delivers resources and coordination to where they are most needed.
 
"Because no government has taken the problem seriously, the Education Department has failed to develop a system-wide approach to Aboriginal literacy that is regularly reviewed and evaluated.
 
"The Department's failure to consistently involve parents and their communities has resulted in a gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students literacy levels that remains unacceptably static.  
 
"However, with political and bureaucratic will, the gap can be closed. The Auditor-General has identified short and medium term measures that should be seen as mandatory.
 
"The O'Farrell government cannot hide from its obligations to some of the most disadvantaged people in NSW.
 
"The NSW government must immediately abandon its tight-fisted approach to public sector expenditure and make a financial and administrative commitment to implement the Auditor-General's recommendations.
 
"If Mr Piccoli refuses to make Aboriginal literacy a budget priority, the bureaucratic incompetence will continue and more students will be left behind. Without more funds, the O'Farrell government's 2021 state plan objectives for Aboriginal literacy will be rendered meaningless," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information:       John Kaye 0407 195 455