Australia Invests Additional $4 million For Literacy And Numeracy Projects
Additional $4 million for literacy and numeracy in WAThe Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has today announced that the Rudd Government will provide $4 million in additional funding to support effective literacy and numeracy projects in Western Australia.
The Education Revolution is driving a renewed focus on the foundation skills of literacy and numeracy to ensure all Australian students, including Indigenous students, get the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.In addition to the development of the first National Curriculum, the Government is investing in initiatives that will reinvigorate the teaching of literacy and numeracy in all of our schools.Support for programs that have been shown to work will build the capacity of our teachers and schools to improve the educational outcomes of students, particularly Indigenous students.
National Accelerated Literacy ProjectFunding of over $1.9 million will be provided to the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia to continue the National Accelerated Literacy Project in Independent Aboriginal Community Schools.The National Accelerated Literacy project aims to improve educational outcomes for students, with a particular focus on Indigenous students.
A pilot of the project conducted from 2005 to 2008, provided teachers with access to high quality professional development resources and support. An evaluation of the project showed good results were achieved for Indigenous students.
The Rudd Government is supporting the continuation of the project which is run in the following West Australian schools:
Kimberley region – Kulkarriya Community School; Yakanarra Community School; Yiyili Aboriginal Community School; Wulungarra Community School,; Nyikina Mangala Community School and Purnululu Community School.
- Pilbara and Great Sandy Desert region: Strelley Community School; Rawa Community School and Parnngurr Community School.
- Southern West Australia: Culunga Community School Coolgardie Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed Schools, Kurrawang and Wongutha.
- Karalundi Aboriginal Education Centre in Murchison is also involved in the project.
Resilient Professional Numeracy Network in Western Australia
The Rudd Government will also support the Resilient Professional Numeracy Network in Western Australia.
Further funding of over $1.9 million will be provided to the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia to support the network of Independent Aboriginal Community Schools.
The network aims to boost numeracy skills for targeted students by connecting school leaders, teachers, parents and the community.
The ongoing support will benefit five schools in the Kimberley Region and three schools in the Pilbara and Great Sand Desert Area.
- Kimberley Region – Kulkarriya Community School; Yakanarra Community School; Yiyili Aboriginal Community School; Wulungarra Community School; Nyikina Mangala Community School and Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School
- Pilbara and Great Sandy Desert Area – Strelley Community School; Rawa Community School; and Parnngurr Community School.
The project will also expand through WA to include five more schools:
- Karalundi Aboriginal Education Centre in Murchison;
- Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed Schools in Coolgardie;
- Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed Schools Kurrawang in Kalgoorlie;
- Culunga Community School in the West Swan; and
- Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed Schools Wongutha in Esperance.
Literacy and numeracy projects like these are an important part of the Government’s commitment to Close the Gap in educational attainment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
This commitment is in addition to the $7 million announced earlier this year for literacy and numeracy projects in the Kimberley Region including; $700 000 to expand the Kimberley Reading Recovery project; $1.3 million for sound amplification equipment and $5 million to construct and repair teacher housing in remote WA.
The Rudd Government is currently leading the development of the Indigenous Education Action Plan. Earlier this month the Review of Australian Direction in Indigenous Education 2006-08 was released, providing a strong basis for public consultation on the Plan.
Topics: Australia, Australian Direction in Indigenous Education, education, education revolution, funding, Governance, Indigenous Education, Indigenous Education Action Plan, Indigenous Students, jobs, literacy, non Indigenous Australians, numeracy, Professional Numeracy Network, Rudd Government, Western Australia
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