Labor’s $14 million CDU indigenous learning hub election promise
THE Labor Party will go to the election promising a new education hub to transform education delivery in indigenous and remote communities in the Territory
Northern Territory
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THE Labor Party will go to the election promising a new education hub to transform education delivery in indigenous and remote communities in the Territory.
The hub, to be based at Charles Darwin University’s Palmerston campus, would work towards curbing declining indigenous school attendance rates and closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students.
The new facility, to be built if Labor wins the May 18 Federal election, would focus on “delivering teacher training designed to lift student achievement in outback areas and indigenous communities,” according to deputy Labor leader and opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek.
“Indigenous students, and students in regional, rural, and remote areas, still don’t have the same opportunities as non-Indigenous students, or students in the city.
“A young person from the north shore of Sydney is four times more likely to have a degree than someone in outback NT.
“We need to do much better — and projects such as the hub at CDU will make a big difference.”
Ms Plibersek said that teaching experts at the new hub would work with educators in the classroom to improve their skills and deliver professional development for teachers and principals.
“The hub will also work on how to improve teaching of literacy and numeracy, and Aboriginal languages,” she said.
Labor Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said the hub would become central to CDU’s education program and deliver desperately needed culturally appropriate services to outback communities.
“CDU has decades of experience in indigenous education and teaching in regional, rural and remote Australia and the new hub will cement the university’s reputation as a leader in this field,” he said.
“The teaching profession faces major challenges in the NT, such as attracting and retaining the workforce and delivering culturally appropriate services.
“The Learning Lab will bring together research expertise to address these challenges and build the capacity of teachers working in the outback and indigenous communities.”
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Mr Gosling also said the project could help grow the CDU student population, which he expects to “double over the next decade” to 5000.
The $14 million promise comes as part of the Labor’s broader $300 million University Future Fund education platform, which it says sets it apart from the Liberal Party.
“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for better universities, hospitals and schools or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals,” a Labor spokesman said.
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