The Minister for Education, The Honourable Bronwyn Pike addressed Principals at the Conference this week to outline Wannik (Learning Together – Journey to Our Future) and reinforce the support that the Victorian Government will take to improve educational outcomes for Koorie students.

The Minister for Education, the Honourable Bronwyn Pike, in launching the WANNIK strategy in February this year, has said:

...the educational needs of Koorie young people have not been adequately recognised within the context of our reform agenda.

As a result, and despite significant investment, Koorie students have not fared as well as they should. Quite simply, our key strategies are not working, and in some instances have actually had the effect of isolating Koorie students from broader school reforms.

Ensuring every Koorie child has the opportunities that a high-quality school education can deliver will therefore require a whole new approach. Wannik provides such an approach. It represents a renewed level of commitment from the Victorian Government to ensure that every Koorie child receives a first class education in Victoria’s government schools.

Fundamental to Wannik is the fostering of a new culture of high expectations for Koorie students, and systemic reform across government schools to deliver the best possible education to meet these expectations. These reforms include an increased emphasis on accountability at the school, regional and system levels, strong leadership, and better engagement with Koorie parents and the community.

We will work in partnership with Koorie parents and the community to create an education system that respects, recognises and celebrates cultural identity. Our education system must provide for all Victorians. The Victorian Government, together with VAEAI and Victoria’s Koorie community, is no longer prepared to accept anything less than excellence in the educational opportunities provided to Victoria’s Koorie young people.

I am confident that in the spirit of Wannik, the Victorian education system and the Koorie community can achieve great things for Victoria’s Koorie young people.

I commend this strategy to you, and look forward to working with all parts of the Victorian community as part of a new era of education in Victoria.

 

Brownwyn Pike - Minister for Education

Related Links:

Education Strategy for Koorie Students [DEECD]

Creating a culture of Great Learning Expectations - The Age

Download Wannik Strategy Document [PDF 920KB]

Career Resource Guidelines for Koorie Young People

Posted by Bill Coppinger on 9 March 2008; 4:21:46 PM from the School Education dept.