Improving literacy in Durack’s remote schools

Students at seventeen schools in Durack will get a boost to help them with reading and writing under the $22 million flexible literacy for remote primary schools programme in 2015.

Melissa Price, Federal Member for Durack said 34 remote schools Australia-wide will participate in the programme which introduces two approaches: Direct Instruction and Explicit Direct Instruction.

“The Federal Government is wanting to ensure every Australian student gets the educational opportunity they need to succeed,” Ms Price said.

“Central to a good education is literacy, the ability to read, write and understand.

“These ‘back to basics’ approaches which will be delivered to the students in our remote communities from next year have proven successful in the US and in Australian pilots.

“I am proud to be part of a Government that is expanding direct instruction to students in distant parts of Durack, in places like Carnarvon, Fitzroy, Halls Creek, Magnet, Meekatharra, Lombadina and Nullagine,” Ms Price said.

Teachers at participating schools will receive professional development and support to gain the knowledge and skills they need to use the direct instruction approaches.

The Flexible literacy for remote primary schools programme will be managed by Good to Great Schools Australia and is part of the Government’s Students First approach. Under the Students First approach, the Australian Government will work with the states and territories on four key areas that will make a difference to students:

• teacher quality
• school autonomy
• parental engagement
• strengthening the curriculum.