By PETER ROWE

A shocking report has revealed that more than half of secondary school-aged children enrolled in public education in northern Western Australia are not attending school.

The Department of Education WA data shows Secondary school attendance was 41.6 per cent, while primary school attendance was 62 per cent.

Attendance at the region’s five biggest secondary schools in Broome, Derby, Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing was just 49.3 per cent.

By comparison the State attendance average was 82.5 per cent.

In some remote communities the numbers are even worse, with attendance rates declining to as low as 10 per cent.

The Together We Ride program has made a big impact on at-risk youth in the Kimberley region.

The concerning numbers come on the back of funding cuts to a Broome-based program, “Together We Ride”, that had made a big impact on at-risk youth in the Kimberley region.
Through the initiative, young people re-engaged with education, and strengthened their ties to culture.

“We’ve received consistent, positive feedback from families, schools, and community programs, with many expressing their disappointment that the program cannot continue,” Family Outreach Service manager Kevin Mckenzie told ibnews.com.au.

“The young fellas were doing so well. I wish Together We Ride was still operating.”