The context for change : reconceptualising the 3Rs in education for Indigenous students

In 2011, three years on from the Apology given by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to the Stolen Generations and coupled with the Federal Government's agenda to 'close the gap' in education for Aboriginal students, perhaps it is time to retrospectively look at the issues and challenges that have moulded the terrain of Aboriginal education in Western Australia. It is clear that over the last 200 years there has been progress in improving the access of schooling for many Aboriginal students. However the retention and successful completion of compulsory schooling still remain at unacceptable levels. Given that historically many Indigenous students have underachieved in most aspects of their 'Western' education then it stands to reason that the basic 3R concept of Reading, [W]riting and [A]rithmetic are inaccessible for many Indigenous students in their present form. Perhaps the most appropriate strategy today, in outcome-based education, and to assist with 'closing the gap', would be to reconceptualise the 3R concept into a more tangible form. [Author abstract]