University Education NECESSARY to Break Through the Barriers of Indigenous Educational Disadvantage
As depressing as it may be, I'm sure we are all aware that there is an overwhelming amount of statistics regarding the disadvantages that Indigenous students face compared to non-Indigenous students. These issues are not only in primary and high school but also occur in life after school. In the article Education bar must be set higher to close the gap Bill Lawson agrees that Indigenous students are beginning to better achieve and compete with non-Indigenous students and this is something to be praised, however, Lawson goes on to say that the "big game is university education - the real decisions are made around the table by people with university education." The chair of GenerationOne Warren Mundine reiterates this when he informs us that in the next 5 years 70 per cent of jobs will require at least a certificate III or equivalent (CEDA, 2013)
So as much as we are improving the education of Indigenous students this will come to nothing if they finish school, unqualified, and rely solely on welfare.. What are some of these so called barriers that Indigenous students face you may ask?
The Creative Spirits website offers us a list :
- English as a second language (most Indigenous students first language is not English, they are instantly put at a disadvantage when attending a school that does not facilitate to this)
- Inappropriate context (Indigenous students may become very bored and inattentive if the materials do not relate to them or can be useful in their lives, this can include a very 'white' history, and stories focusing on 'white' people)
- Overcrowded houses (this can be a major issue if a child does not have an appropriate space where they can do their homework, also if there is no support at home such as a parent or sibling who encourages an education)
- Poor teaching quality (many teachers believe they need more professional development for Aboriginal education)
For a more thorough list see (http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/education/barriers-to-aboriginal-education )
There are many more barriers that Indigenous students face, Greg Vass argues that the school institution itself adopts "inequalities through operating as a function of white property" (Vass, 2012, 2). And through all these disadvantages how can an Indigenous student possibly be meeting Vass' 3rd disposition, the right to use and enjoyment (Vass, 2012, 4). Poor attendance and poor retention show that Indigenous students are not finding education useful or enjoyable. So this needs to change in order for Indigenous students to reach university or TAFE, get a job and break the cycle of disadvantage.
Back to the newspaper article, Jenny Macklin (the Federal Minister for Families), informs us that the Closing the Gap program has started to see a shift in the expectations of Indigenous peoples themselves. They want to break the cycle, they want to be qualified and want to have a secure job. The Closing the Gap program is helping this happen by introducing employment agencies in remote areas. This allows them to seek help of a professional and achieve economic independence (CEDA, 2013).
I think, doing an education course, I mainly thought about Indigenous students and how to get them through school. But this article has made me realise that congratulating ourselves on getting them through school is not enough, we need to encourage and aid them to make further decisions in life.
References
Creative Spirits, Barriers to Aboriginal education
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/education/barriers-to-aboriginal-education
Education bar must be set higher to close the gap, Community for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), Tuesday April 13 2013
http://www.ceda.com.au/news-articles/2013/04/30/wa_indigenoustargets
Greg Vass, (2012): The racialised educational landscape
in Australia: listening to the whispering elephant, Race Ethnicity and Education,
So as much as we are improving the education of Indigenous students this will come to nothing if they finish school, unqualified, and rely solely on welfare.. What are some of these so called barriers that Indigenous students face you may ask?
The Creative Spirits website offers us a list :
- English as a second language (most Indigenous students first language is not English, they are instantly put at a disadvantage when attending a school that does not facilitate to this)
- Inappropriate context (Indigenous students may become very bored and inattentive if the materials do not relate to them or can be useful in their lives, this can include a very 'white' history, and stories focusing on 'white' people)
- Overcrowded houses (this can be a major issue if a child does not have an appropriate space where they can do their homework, also if there is no support at home such as a parent or sibling who encourages an education)
- Poor teaching quality (many teachers believe they need more professional development for Aboriginal education)
For a more thorough list see (http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/education/barriers-to-aboriginal-education )
There are many more barriers that Indigenous students face, Greg Vass argues that the school institution itself adopts "inequalities through operating as a function of white property" (Vass, 2012, 2). And through all these disadvantages how can an Indigenous student possibly be meeting Vass' 3rd disposition, the right to use and enjoyment (Vass, 2012, 4). Poor attendance and poor retention show that Indigenous students are not finding education useful or enjoyable. So this needs to change in order for Indigenous students to reach university or TAFE, get a job and break the cycle of disadvantage.
Back to the newspaper article, Jenny Macklin (the Federal Minister for Families), informs us that the Closing the Gap program has started to see a shift in the expectations of Indigenous peoples themselves. They want to break the cycle, they want to be qualified and want to have a secure job. The Closing the Gap program is helping this happen by introducing employment agencies in remote areas. This allows them to seek help of a professional and achieve economic independence (CEDA, 2013).
I think, doing an education course, I mainly thought about Indigenous students and how to get them through school. But this article has made me realise that congratulating ourselves on getting them through school is not enough, we need to encourage and aid them to make further decisions in life.
References
Creative Spirits, Barriers to Aboriginal education
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/education/barriers-to-aboriginal-education
Education bar must be set higher to close the gap, Community for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), Tuesday April 13 2013
http://www.ceda.com.au/news-articles/2013/04/30/wa_indigenoustargets
Greg Vass, (2012): The racialised educational landscape
in Australia: listening to the whispering elephant, Race Ethnicity and Education,
Amanda Brown
