Northern Territory Government Failing Remote Students

The Minister for Education, Marion Scrymgour, cannot just brush off allegations from Helen Hughes, Professor Emeritus at the Australian National University, that the Territory Government is failing students in remote communities.

"Can the Minister guarantee that every student in the Territory has access to a qualified teacher?,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

"I note she doesn't dispute Professor Hughes claim that students Yilparra don't have a qualified teacher.

"I want to know how many other students in the Northern Territory don't have a qualified teacher.

"Does the Minister have an answer to this most basic of questions?

"When I asked her this very question earlier in the year she claimed that all teaching positions were filled.

"Providing access to education is a core responsibility of Government and there is no excuse for children in remote communities not having a qualified teacher in their classrooms.

"I also want to know whether the Minister acknowledges to failure of the current curriculum in the Territory.

"There is no excuse for large numbers of children reaching high school with literacy levels of a 6 year old.

"Does the Minister dispute the fact that thousands of high school students have almost no basic skills in literacy and numeracy?

"Labor was elected 7 years ago on the promise it would rectify the entrenched disadvantage facing Indigenous Territorians. 7 years later and still many young Territorians aren't receiving tuition from qualified school teachers.

"This fundamental failure has occurred despite the fact that the Territory Government now has $1 billion a year in extra revenue.

"In the midst of a tax bonanza Territory Labor hasn't even managed to achieve a third world standard of education in remote communities.”

2008-04-07