How to improve Aboriginal literacy & attendance

While many Aboriginal students' education is a far cry from that of their non-Aboriginal peers, a success story from the East Kenwick Primary School in Perth tells us that good literacy is achievable—if the teaching conditions are right [1].

The school took the following approach:

• Participation of Aboriginal parents and elders: Parents are encouraged to participate in day-to-day aspects of their children's education.
• Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers: They act as role models for the students and take small groups under directions.
• Involve all senses: The school uses a tactile, visual and auditory learning program called Jolly Phonics from pre-primary to Year 2. It aids students to hear, touch and see what they learn, covering individual learning styles.
• Small groups: Teaching small groups with Indigenous tutors enables focusing on specific students and their needs.

Schools also have a greater chance to succeed when they engage mobile teachers to take into account that Aboriginal parents might have to leave for extended periods for sorry business (when a relative has died), ceremony [2] or to get itinerant, seasonal work.

A research study into Aboriginal access to pre-schools [3] found that in order to be more inclusive of Aboriginal people a pre-school

• staff needs to be welcoming and supportive;
• Aboriginal resources should be used and displayed, such as musical instruments, artwork or books;
• Aboriginal elders should be invited to visit the centre;
• relationships with local Aboriginal communities should be built.

We know for sure from examples right across the country, where school leaders go out of their way to engage with parents and children and build positive relationships, attendance improves. —Dr Chris Sarra, Aboriginal educator [5]

How to increase school attendance

To entice students to go to school one has to get creative.

A remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, has introduced a range of measures to increase attendance which won it the Northern Territory Smart Schools Award for Excellence in improving school attendance [6].

The community uses a school vehicle to travel around the small community each morning, ringing a bell and picking up students. The bus also drops off and picks up children from ceremony sites, for example during funerals.

If school-aged children turn up at the community shop during school hours they don't get served. During the football and basketball seasons, students who haven't attended school during the week are not allowed to play.

If students attend school 5 out of 5 days they can win shop vouchers. If they attend every day for 5 weeks they receive a sports bag.

Another remote community in Kakadu National Park, NT, found that attendance peaked in the wet season, when heavy rain limited travel out of the community [7]. In the dry season attendance dropped significantly as students travelled with their families for cultural ceremonies and traditional activities.

Now school starts early in the wet season, and students are compensated with longer holidays during the dry season.

The Clontarf Football Foundation managed to increase Indigenous student attendance to 85% by also offering their students incentives. If students can prove their academic results are improving over a period of time they qualify for trips to Melbourne to watch Australian Football League games [4].

Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
[1] 'Perth school gets it right', Koori Mail 422, p.44 [2] 'Mobile pre-schools seen as NT solution', Koori Mail 430 p.55 [3] 'Free pre-school education urged', Koori Mail 494 p.21 [4] 'Clontarf Football Academy spreads wings', NIT 7/8/2008 p.43 [5] 'Educators urged to look at new approach', Koori Mail 513 p.6 [6] 'Warruwi is one smart school', Koori Mail 515 p.55 [7] 'School back early as Gunbalanya pilots trial', Koori Mail 518 p.13