NT: New progam for young Aborigines trialled in NT

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2008
NT: New progam for young Aborigines trialled in NT

DARWIN, Aug 28 AAP - Aboriginal children will be prepared for school well before their
first day under a literacy and numeracy program to be trialled in remote Northern Territory
communities.

Announcing $2.28 million in federal funds to support the program, NT Chief Minister
Paul Henderson said the trial would focus on the formative primary years.

"This trial program is designed to involve parents and the whole community in a child's
education well before they start school," he said.

Since coming to power in November last year, the Rudd government has committed to halve
the gaps in infant mortality, literacy, numeracy and employment outcomes between indigenous
and non-indigenous people within a decade.

It will jointly fund the new trial, the first part of which will focus on giving children
a head start: preparing them for school through play and interaction with their parents
and families.

It is designed to support the NT government's Families as First Teachers program, which
aims to provide children up to the age of four with good health habits and literacy skills.

"We're committed to accelerating the learning of indigenous children," Mr Henderson said.

"As parents, school staff and the whole community become more involved in the education
of children in the early years, literacy and numeracy results will start to improve."

The pilot program will be delivered in the Warlpiri triangle communities of Lajamanu,
Yuendumu, Nyirrpi and Willowra, and Milingimbi, Ramingining, Shepherdson College at Galiwinku,
Gapuwiyak, Yirrkala and in the Miwatj region of Arnhem Land.

Mr Henderson said Menzies School of Health researchers would monitor the effectiveness
of the trial.

AAP tr/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS LITERACY

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