Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC is appalled at the State Government’s decision to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEOs) in schools around Western Australia.
“With all the talk of ‘closing the gap’ and ‘overcoming Indigenous disadvantage’, I would have expected to see a more concerted effort and more resources go into educating Aboriginal and Islander children, not less,” Mr Chapple said.
“The excuse that there are insufficient enrolments of Aboriginal students to warrant the retention of the current number of AIEOs should be ringing alarm bells in Government and education circles.
“Instead, we have the complacent response from the Minister for Education that there will be a reduction of 105 full time equivalent AIEO hours allocated to schools in WA in 2014.
“Where have all the students gone? Have they all given up and gone home? What’s the Education Department doing to follow up on these kids and encourage them back to school?”
The 2011 Review of the AIEO program by Edith Cowan University for the Education Department found that, while it could be improved, there was widespread support from principals, teachers and AIEOs. It found that AIEOs played an important role in community liaison, engagement with students and assisting students who were otherwise falling behind to perform better at school.
“The report concluded that the AIEO program has significant strengths and is well worth maintaining. In fact, principals consider the presence of AIEOs in schools a crucial element in facilitating the education of Aboriginal students,” Mr Chapple said.
“Why the Government should commission a review and then go against its findings and recommendations is beyond comprehension.
“I call on the Government to reconsider its decision,” Mr Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
