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Media Release
‘DARE TO LEAD’ $8 MILLION BOOST FOR INDIGENOUS SCHOOL PROJECT
24 May, 2005 MIN 1116/05
An innovative project to support school principals working to improve Indigenous education results was given an $8 million boost by the Australian Government today.
The Dare to Lead: Making the Difference initiative aims to sign up 5,000 principals and their communities to commit to reducing the gap in education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
Principals receive a variety of learning opportunities and support, with Dare to Lead schools undertaking to achieve a 10% improvement in Year 5 literacy and year 12 completion rates.
This new project builds on previous phases of the highly successful Dare to Lead project, by engaging principals from around Australia, to form an ongoing coalition of schools who share a commitment to improving educational outcomes for their Indigenous students.
The Dare to Lead coalition now comprises 2,880 schools in all States and Territories, and over 15,000 participants have attended 250 Indigenous education forums.
Today’s announcement follows on from an initial Australian Government grant of $3.2 million in 2002. The project will be co-ordinated by the Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council who will continue to deliver the successful project nationally, targeting those schools with significant Indigenous populations, particularly in remote and regional areas.
Over the next four years, the Australian Government will provide $2.1 billion to support Indigenous education in pre-schools and schools, tertiary education providers and Indigenous students. This represents an increase of $381 million - or 22.3% - over the previous four year funding period.
There can be no higher priority for education throughout Australia than to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous Australians at every level.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
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