NT govt launches school attendance campaign

The NT Government has launched a school attendance campaign reminding parents of their legal responsibility to ensure their children are attending school.

In the Territory, 51.9 per cent of enrolled Aboriginal students are attending school, compared with 84.3 per cent attendance by non-Aboriginal students.

And children who are absent from school for 20 days are moved onto another list, which is not included as part of the ‘enrolled’ statistics.

Radio ads have been translated into Murrinh-Patha, Westside Kriol, Yolngu Matha, Warlpiri and Pintupi-Luritja to help improve the attendance numbers.

“The low attendance rates among Aboriginal students are not because of an inability to access a classroom or a system that lacks appreciation for their culture,” Education Minister Jo Hersey said.

“There are 153 schools across the Territory. We have bilingual schools, on country learning and amazing teachers and principals that strive to provide education in the most culturally sensitive and appropriate way possible.”