Media Release
Indigenous educators gather for literacy forum
22 July 2008
Department of Employment, Education and Training Chief Executive Margaret Banks today formally opened the Learning Strong (Kaltye Irrtyeke Ikerte) forum, building the professional skills of Indigenous educators delivering the National Accelerated Literacy Program in remote NT schools.
“Building the capacity of Indigenous staff with this type of training is key to improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students,” Ms Banks said.
Innovative literacy academic Dr Brian Gray will address approximately 180 Indigenous remote Australian teachers and educators attending the two-day literacy education forum held in Darwin on 21-22 July, which follows a similar professional development forum held in Alice Springs early in June for Central Australian teachers.
“Dr Gray’s work at Traeger Park School in Alice Springs from 1978-1982 was instrumental to the development of the National Accelerated Literacy Program, which is designed to raise the English literacy levels of Indigenous students,” Ms Banks said.
Research has shown that the National Accelerated Literacy Program is an effective intervention, with evidence of significant improvements in Indigenous student literacy outcomes.
Ms Banks also acknowledged the important and challenging work undertaken by literacy educators in 70 schools across the Territory.
“These educators are doing a mighty job, and the forum will give many of them a rare opportunity to compare notes, share stories on best practice and celebrate their successes.”
“This is also an opportunity for school-based Indigenous educators to engage in discussions about how literacy programs can address current educational inequities, particularly for Indigenous students in remote or very remote settings,” she said.
Program co-creator Wendy Cowey will also address the forum, as will Tracker Tilmouth and Indigenous Accelerated Literacy teacher Jannette Ngale McCormack.