FED: Gillard pledges $2.3 billion for indigenous education

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2008
FED: Gillard pledges $2.3 billion for indigenous education

Acting Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has pledged to pump 2.3 billion dollars into improving
indigenous education .. saying she's determined to close the gap between indigenous and
non-indigenous students.

Saying she's hit in the guts by the extent of illiteracy among remote students .. Ms
GILLARD promised yesterday to slash red tape .. and allow educators more flexibility to
pursue policies that work .. instead of endless pilot programs that never end up making
a system-wide change.

Ms GILLARD .. who's also Education Minister .. says addressing disadvantage is a higher
priority for the Rudd government than an indigenous bill of rights .. as proposed by Aboriginal
leader PAT DODSON.

She's told The Australian newspaper the government's total education spending under
Council of Australian Governments reforms .. the recent schools assistance legislation
.. and other indigenous measures .. will top 2.3 billion dollars over the next four years.

AAP RTV ao/psm/

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS GILLARD (SYDNEY)

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