Northern Territory Education Minister Peter Chandler has completed a three-day tour of remote Indigenous schools on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.
On the final day of his tour, Mr Pearson was joined by Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson, who runs the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy.
Mr Pearson showed the Minister around the academy’s Hope Vale campus, about 50 kilometres north of Cooktown.
The schools teach English literacy and numeracy using the direct instruction teaching method, which focuses on teacher direction and repetition.
Yesterday Mr Chandler visited the Aurukun campus, where all students speak English as a second language.
He says he was impressed by the students’ engagement, and is seriously considering the model for Territory schools.
Mr Pearson says students at the Cape York schools are encouraged to attend urban boarding schools once they have graduated from primary school.
“This is a model for remote Australia really,” he said.
“Our five C model is completely applicable to Indigenous communities across remote Australia and should therefore be applicable in the Northern Territory.”
He has rejected criticism the focus on English literacy and numeracy is a barrier to students retaining their languages and culture.
“We believe that our program is an ambitious program,” he said.
“It’s not an assimilation program, it’s about keeping your culture, but also being equipped to participate in the wider world.”