Rights inquiry outlines 73 recommendations

By Wendy Currie

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission has released a report and 73 recommendations regarding rural and remote education.

The report, following a national inquiry, recognises the educational disadvantage suffered by rural students in general and indigenous students in particular. It says: "When reliable data show that rural and/or remote area students are less likely to participate in schooling, more likely to be absent, less likely to complete the compulsory school years, less likely to complete Year 12 and less likely to participate in tertiary education and training, it is clear that the adequacy and allocation of effort and resources must be examined. The UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education, to which Australia is a party, states that an inferior standard of education can amount to unlawful discrimination (article 1.1(b))."

The report acknowledges the recommendations' resource implications, concluding that "substantial additional resources are required to ensure equity and effectiveness in rural and remote education".

The Commission determined "education must be available, accessible, affordable, acceptable and adaptable" and placed these in an international human rights context. It was on these criteria that the Commission organised its 73 recommendations.

An extensive section on indigenous education proposes the establishment and resourcing of a National Indigenous Education Advisory Council "made up of representatives of relevant indigenous organisations, including ATSIC and state and territory indigenous education consultative groups".

Other recommendations cover aspects as diverse as staffing, access to professional development, incentives, child focussed policy and provision, school-community partnerships, a federal/state ministerial taskforce, an enhanced Country Areas Program (CAP), improved teacher education, physical resources, hostels, technology, home tutors, maximised subject choice, distance education, health services, special education resources and a national inclusion commitment, support networks, Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC), transport subsidies, curriculum development, work placements and excursions.

There are a few recommendations, such as that relating to cross-sectoral sharing of facilities and resources, that will require close monitoring by the Federation but on the whole the recommendations are more than welcome. There is, however, no obligation on state or federal governments to allocate the necessary funds to implement them. Federation intends to lobby both governments to put the recommendations into effect.

This may not be easy especially at the federal level, where the Howard Government's preference for the non-government sector is legendary. In the recent Federal Budget, for example, there was no increase in funding for CAP, 85 per cent of which flows to government schools, while extra money was found to increase the Basic Boarding Allowance by 10 percent, most of which flows to students in private schools, The 103 page report is available on the Internet at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/rural/education/index.html

Federation has extracted the recommendations from the report. If you would like a copy please contact Tricia Small on (02) 9217 2100.

Wendy Currie is a ResearchOfficer

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August 2000 contents