Schools minister warns parents
Natasha Robinson; 2/5/08
The Northern Territory’s Deputy Chief Minister is under fire after shifting blame for the crisis in remote education to alcoholic, drug-addicted parents who fail to send their children to school. Marion Scrymgour, who also holds the Education portfolio, yesterday warned parents that failing to send their children to school was illegal and that she would enforce penalties for those who failed to do so. Ms Scrymgour, one of the most senior Aboriginal politicians in the country, will establish, “subject to negotiations”, two community partnership education boards, to be located in the Walpiri triangle in central Australia and selected communities in East Arnhem Land. Ms Scrymgour’s plan to tackle what she admits is a crisis in remote education was delivered to Northern Territory parliament this week, with parental responsibility at the core of the Government’s attempts to improve the shocking literacy and numeracy outcomes among Aboriginal children in the Territory.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23632433-2702,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Education