Revived teaching program to increase Aboriginal educator numbers

A REMOTE teaching program will be revived next year to inspire more Aboriginal people to become educators

Gapuwiyak Early Childhood teacher Alison Wunungmurra hopes the RATE program will encourage more Aboriginal people to pursue education as a career. Picture: Raphaella Saroukos

A REMOTE teaching program will be revived next year to inspire more Aboriginal people to become educators.

Education Minister Selena Uibo made the announcement while also providing an update on education amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“(I’m) very happy to say we’ve had over two thirds of our Territory students return to school,” she said.

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The Remote Aboriginal Teacher Education (RATE) program, delivered in the 1980s and 90s, provides employment pathways for remote residents to pursue a career in teaching at schools and early childcare.

Gapuwiyak Early Childhood teacher Alison Wunungmurra hoped the program would inspire indigenous youth to pursue a career in education.

“Creating strong and meaningful educational pathways like this for aspiring Aboriginal educators will only make our community that much stronger,” she said.

The RATE pilot program will begin in 2021, with Groote Eylandt, Warlpiri and Ngukurr flagged as potential trial communities.

It will be delivered in partnership with Charles Darwin University and the Batchelor Institute.

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Ms Uibo will be going on maternity leave this week, with her replacement soon to be announced.