Ten of Western Australia’s most remote schools in the Kimberley are the first to take part in an initiative to encourage children to attend school regularly and accelerate the progress of Aboriginal students.
The Kimberley Schools Project focuses on targeted teaching to students’ specific needs in literacy and numeracy, providing improved learning and care in the early years, strengthening regular attendance and increasing student and community engagement.
Expert staff based in Broome will visit schools across the region regularly to provide one-on-one support and advice to principals and teachers. Curriculum materials have also been specifically developed.
The initiative includes ways to improve learning opportunities for children three years old and under, including building relationships between schools and their communities.
All schools in the Kimberley have the option to take part in the project, with at least 22 schools set to be involved by the end of the project in 2020.
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Education, Catholic Education Western Australia, Association of Independent Schools Western Australia and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.