MEDIA RELEASE
$179 MILLION BOOST FOR SCHOOL-BASED INDIGENOUS
TUTORING
11 May 2004 MINBUD 35/04
The Australian Government will provide $179 million over the next
four years to ensure that Indigenous students can access high
quality tutorial assistance at key stages of their education.
A new school-based Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS)
will direct resources to the initiatives that have demonstrably
achieved improvements in education outcomes. The scheme will
encourage governments, education providers and Indigenous
communities to work together to accelerate education outcomes for
Indigenous students.
The funding is an increase of $50 million over 2001-2004 in this
element of the Indigenous Education Direct Assistance (IEDA)
programme, which is being significantly reformed for 2005-2008 to
better direct funding to proven programmes.
The reforms are based on findings from a review of the IEDA in
2003 (available at:
www.dest.gov.au/schools/Publications/2004/index.htm#IEDA ).
Since 2001, the assistance scheme has been piloted in Cape York,
the Northern Territory and NSW. It was found to have had a
significant and successful impact on student outcomes. Pilot
analysis found that in the Northern Territory, 70% of participating
students showed growth in literacy skills, and in NSW, that 78.5% of
participating schools reported improvements in literacy and numeracy
achievements.
Parents and schools also reported improvements in school
attendance, self-esteem and other behavioural changes as a result of
in-class tuition. These factors contribute to increased confidence
and more active class participation.
In-Class Tuition
The in-class tuition scheme will become one of the Australian
Government’s flagship initiatives in Indigenous education from 2005.
Increased Government funding of $105.5 million over four years
will be provided and the scheme will be rolled out nationally.
Assistance will be targeted at those students not meeting the Year
3, 5 and 7 literacy and numeracy national benchmarks. It is
estimated that more than 45,000 students will benefit from the
additional assistance over 2005-2008.
The in-class scheme will enable all Indigenous students in remote
schools, and most Indigenous students in non-remote schools who do
not meet the national literacy and numeracy benchmarks in Years 3, 5
and 7, to access an average of 2.5 hours supplementary in-class
tuition per week for a maximum of 32 weeks per annum. This is
considered to be the optimal level of in-class tuition that balances
the needs of the child to receive special one-on-one tuition
alongside the need to also be part of mainstream classes.
Year 10, 11 and 12 Tuition
In addition, a new tuition scheme targeted at Year 10, 11 and 12
students will be introduced to increase retention and completion
rates of Indigenous students in the latter years of schooling.
Almost $42 million will be provided in 2005-2008 for
approximately 11,600 students to receive individual or small group
assistance after school. This will enable 50% of remote students and
10% of non-remote students to access an average of four hours per
week, for up to 35 weeks per year.
This enhanced approach to tutoring replaces the Aboriginal
Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ATAS), which provided tutorial
assistance, primarily for after school tuition for Indigenous
students who fall within the bottom 20% at school.
Tertiary Tuition
Tuition will continue to be available for tertiary students
through bulk-funding arrangements with institutions and, at a cost
of $31.5 million, the programme will aim to target more than 4,000
students over 2005-2008. Also, more flexible arrangements for the
delivery of tutorial assistance will benefit students in remote
locations.
Current funding levels will be maintained to assist with
successful subject and course completion. The review of the ATAS
bulk-funding arrangements with tertiary institutions confirmed that
the provision of individualised tuition to tertiary students is
making a difference to subject completions and performance.
Continuation of the tuition will help to close the gap between
Indigenous and non-Indigenous student outcomes.
The targeted changes and increased resources for supplementary
tuition for Indigenous school students are designed to accelerate
improved educational outcomes.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323
Note: The information in this media release has been
previously announced on 5 April 2004.
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