The Coalition wants to see more Indigenous students go to private schools. Is this a smart idea?
The Coalition wants to looks at ‘what works’ in Indigenous education and ‘roll it out more broadly’ .
The opposition's Julian Leeser has advocated for increasing the enrollment of Indigenous students in private schools, citing higher retention rates. However, these statistics may not fully represent the educational outcomes for all Indigenous students. The data focuses on retention rates, which can exceed 100% and do not account for whether students actually complete their education.
Additionally, private school figures likely include a select group of students who are already academically successful, skewing the results. Boarding schools, while popular in the data, may not always meet the needs of Indigenous families who value connection to Country, culture, and kinship. The success of private education for Indigenous students also depends on factors such as reliable internet access, culturally responsive teaching, and supportive teachers.
Instead of focusing on private education, Leeser emphasizes the importance of investing in education on Country under community control, which has proven successful in schools like Dhupuma Barker in Arnhem Land. This approach not only helps Indigenous students finish Year 12 but also helps them maintain strong connections to their families and cultures, ultimately closing the gap in educational attainment.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
