DARWIN—Mobile pre-schools could help solve the crisis of indigenous education in the Northern Territory, according to a Darwin researcher.
Workable solutions are needed to address appalling rates of literacy and numeracy among Aboriginal children, Dr Nick McTurk, of Charles Darwin University (CDU), said.
But they must rely on strategies that mesh with the social and cultural needs of indigenous people, he said.
"Education providers including the Northern Territory Government and CDU are recognising this and are taking a proactive look at what works for communities," Dr McTurk said.
Dr McTurk, who will present his findings to the Australian Population Association Conference in Alice Springs this week, said Governments needed to factor in the transient nature of many indigenous people.
"This creates distinctive challenges for traditional education models," he said.
But Dr McTurk said Government were warming to the idea of versatile pre-schools staffed by mobile teachers and locally trained coordinators.
This would work in with the nomadic tendencies of parents, who will relocate families according to the time of year, or when there is sorry business or ceremony.
Dr McTurk also highlighted the link between education and health.
"An intense intervention is needed early in the lives of many indigenous children to break the burdens of morbidity and low levels of life passed from generation to generation," Dr McTurk said.
"Exploring what form this early intervention should take and how it can be delivered in a socio-culturally appropriate way is crucial."
Education remains one of the biggest problem areas for Governments trying to close the gap in Aboriginal disadvantage.
Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin conceded this on the first anniversary of the intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal communities earlier this month.
It followed a damning report, released by the Australian National University's Centre for Independent Studies in April, that found thousands of Aboriginal students were finishing school with the numeracy and literacy skills of five-year-olds.
It claimed there were at least 10,000 illiterate and non-numerate indigenous teenagers.
The APA's 14th biennial conference will run until Thursday.
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