Sick kids holding back indigenous education
Tony Koch; 24/6/08
Teenage children from Cape York communities are often unable to read, write, tell the time or even know the days of the week, according to a doctor who has spent 12 years working with indigenous children. Lara Wieland said the poor health and hearing difficulties of many children in the communities meant they could not learn, and a high proportion were not encouraged to attend school. Addressing an education conference at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba yesterday, Dr Wieland, who spent three years as resident doctor at Kowanyama community in Cape York, said that education and health went hand in hand. She said Aboriginal children were every bit as bright as non-indigenous children if given a proper start in life.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23912401-5013172,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, health