Aboriginal Parental Involvement in Education

Extract

The Aboriginal consultative group to the Schools Commission in their report, Education for Aborigines, made the following statement about the involvement of parents in the education of their children:

We are aware of recent research that emphasises the importance of adult and parent involvement in the educational process. This is particularly relevant in an Aboriginal context, where traditionally the education of children was the responsibility of the family. We are keen to see Aboriginal parents become more active in their children’s education and in turn develop more skills and greater confidence in themselves.

These thoughts resound the sentiments of the Queensland Department of Education. We appreciate the need for parents to become more involved in education, in providing guidelines of what they feel should be taught to cater for the needs of the Aboriginal/Islander child.