Closing the Gap
The Closing the Gap National Partnership provides funding to strengthen and maintain measures commenced under the Northern Territory Emergency Response in prescribed communities in the Northern Territory. It aims to enhance the delivery of quality education services to Indigenous students in remote school communities and focus on significant improvement in teacher quality and Indigenous literacy and numeracy outcomes. The additional investment totals $44.294 million over three years (July 2009-June 2012).
Scope of reform
This funding will extend, maintain, strength and/or modify reforms commenced under the Northern Territory Emergency response. In prescribed communities, it will be directed to enhance the delivery of quality education services to Indigenous students and significantly improve teacher quality and Indigenous literacy and numeracy outcomes.
Eligibility
Schools eligible to benefit from this funding and all are either located within prescribed areas or support large proportions of students who live in prescribed areas. These schools are also receiving support under the Low SES School Communities National Partnership.
Reform Strategy
The Closing the Gap reforms will supplement and enhance effort generated under other National Partnership Agreements. In particular, it will focus on developing pathways for Indigenous staff, increasing the number of Indigenous staff with education qualifications and providing support and programs to assist achieve improve outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
Key Initiatives
- Intensive Improvement Team to support targeted schools plan and implement whole of school approaches to literacy, numeracy, behaviour management and student wellbeing
- Pilot of alternative leadership approaches such as cultural advisors, co-principals, community mentors
- Strengthen family, school and community partnerships through employment of Indigenous Education Coordinators and development of community partnership arrangements
- Access to enhanced leadership development programs and coaching
- Provide opportunities for schools to deliver flexible pathways, including VET for middle years students
- Pilot a leadership and pathways program for Indigenous senior years students
- Enhanced professional development and support to address needs to Indigenous ESL students
- Introduce screening and induction programs to ensure suitable staff are deployed to remote schools
- Provide on-site coaches, trained in the facilitation of evidence-based approaches to literacy, numeracy and ESL to provide expertise, support and professional development for teachers
- Improve support for students including those with conductive hearing loss
- Provide support to local community members to complete education qualifications, including students