Indigenous schooling's 'bold move'

ABORIGINAL educators have welcomed the NSW government's plan for a radical overhaul of indigenous education.

ABORIGINAL educators have welcomed the NSW government's plan for a radical overhaul of indigenous education in the state, with highly paid principals given unprecedented autonomy to spend money and hire staff.

The NSW government announced its Connected Communities policy on indigenous education yesterday -- revealed in The Australian in January -- which aligns health, community services and employment and training with schools to boost the performance of disadvantaged communities.

Under the plan, 15 schools have been selected whose principals -- known as executive principals -- will become the highest-paid in the state.

Principals will be offered five-year contracts and will be paid more than $200,000 a year to provide leadership in the 15 schools, with $50,000 bonuses available to reward good performance.

The strategy brands schools as "community hubs", with parents encouraged to become stakeholders in their children's education amid an emphasis on celebrating and nurturing indigenous culture, including the teaching of indigenous languages.

At the heart of the plan are the goals of bringing attendance rates for Aboriginal students on a par with the state average, and helping Aboriginal students to achieve national minimum standards in literacy and numeracy.

The position of executive director will be created to oversee the entire strategy.

The policy was implemented following extensive consultation with indigenous leaders.

The NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group yesterday welcomed the NSW Liberal government's "bold move".

"I hope that it achieves a generation of Aboriginal people that actually have pride and aspirations," said the group's president, Cindy Berwick.

Premier Barry O'Farrell said yesterday the policy was an Australian first.

"This is a new approach that recognises that one size does not fit all for Aboriginal education. We have to do things differently," Mr O'Farrell said.

Schools at Boggabilla, Toomelah, Wilcannia, Walgett, Bourke, Moree, Coonamble, Taree, Brewarrina, Menindee

and Hillvue are included in the trial.

In the 15 schools participating in the Connected Communities program, the extra authority given to principals will give them the right to change the style of teaching, alter school hours and even alter the school calendar.

The Education Department is also talking to Catholic schools about the the possibility of becoming involved in the program in some communities.