The Hon Julie Bishop MP - Minister for Education, Science and Training, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues

Home
Portfolio Responsibilities
Personal Profile
Media Centre
Photo Gallery
Links
Curtin Electorate

Media Centre

Media Release

Strengthening Indigenous Communities - Year 9 Indigenous students encouraged to remain at school

9 May 2006 BUD 14/06

Year 9 Indigenous students will be encouraged to continue with schooling to complete year 12 to improve educational and job prospects, supported by an Australian Government programme, with an additional $15.6 million over two calendar/school years to deliver targeted tutorial assistance.

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, announced the programme today as part of the 2006-07 Budget and said the additional assistance will help Indigenous Year 9 students to remain at school and complete Year 12 or its vocational training and education equivalent.

"Year 9 is a time when many Indigenous students risk dropping out of school. Assistance at this key point in their schooling is a worthwhile investment in their continuing education," Minister Bishop said.

"The tutorial assistance programme will strengthen the engagement of Year 9 Indigenous students and reduce drop-out rates from school at this critical transition point."

Year 9 Indigenous students in remote areas of Australia, who face the greatest educational disadvantage, will be specifically targeted. Approximately 4,800 students over the two year period will benefit from the extension of the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme.

"Many Year 9 Indigenous students have a positive perception of school, and of themselves, and aspire to complete Year 12 and go on to further education," Minister Bishop said.

"This scheme will provide the additional assistance they need to achieve their aspirations and improve their participation and studies in a range of subject areas including science and advanced mathematics, which Indigenous students are less likely to study in Year 12."

Tutorial assistance for Indigenous Year 9 students will complement similar assistance already provided to Indigenous Year 10, 11 and 12 students and build on tutorial assistance provided in-class to students in the earlier years of schooling.

The scheme will commence on 1 January 2007.

Media Contacts
Minister Bishop’s Office:	Murray Hansen	0417 886 155
Dept of Education, Science & Training:	Virginia Cook	0412 971 323

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

The extension of the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme to Year 9 Indigenous students will help increase retention to Year 10, and successful completion of Year 12. Year 9 is a critical year for Indigenous students, a time when many make the choice to drop out of school.

Who will benefit?

Approximately 4,800 Indigenous Year 9 students will be assisted over two years. Funding will be targeted towards 50% of Year 9 Indigenous students enrolled in remote schools, and 10% of Year 9 Indigenous students enrolled in non-remote schools.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

The cost of providing tuition is approximately $3,136 per student per year. This gives students access to up to four hours of tutorial assistance per week, for up to 32 weeks in one school year. The funding commitment is $15.6 million over two calendar years.

What have we done in the past?

In the 2005-2008 funding quadrennium, in-class tuition is provided through the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme. It is primarily targeted at those students who failed to meet the literacy and numeracy benchmarks. Individual tuition is also available to Indigenous students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to improve school retention in senior years and to increase Year 12 completion.

When will the initiative conclude?

The funding will continue until the end of 2008.