Truancy officers to boost schooling

THERE will be enough teachers in the Top End, says federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion.

FEDERAL Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has defended the Northern Territory government's cuts to education, revealing he sought a guarantee there will be enough teachers to deal with the increase in school attendance that the Abbott government has vowed to deliver

Teachers in the Territory this week went on strike over the cuts, which they say will hurt indigenous children the most.

Senator Scullion has told The Weekend Australian he wants to employ truancy workers to dramatically increase the numbers of indigenous children attending school in the new term, focusing on remote communities.

He said yesterday he would be monitoring the situation from the start of term on January 28 to ensure that all students were well resourced.

Senator Scullion said the problem in schools was not about teacher numbers but about the quality of teaching delivered in classrooms.

"I know a bit about why they are making these cuts. I know the teachers have been out on strike, but one of the challenges is they've (the NT government) been providing funding -- and the commonwealth has been providing funding vicariously through the NT government -- on the basis of enrolments," he said.

"Twenty-two students per teacher is the best Australia has to offer in these type of schools -- that's in Queensland.

"So I don't think it's the number of teachers, I think it's what happens inside the classroom."

The federal government funds 200 teachers in remote schools and Senator Scullion said NT Chief Minister Adam Giles had assured him there would be sufficient staff to cover increased student enrolments.

"I've had these discussions with the NT Education Minister and Chief Minister and I understand the rationalisation," he said.

The Territory government cut its funding for education and children's services by about $17 million in this year's budget.