I don’t doubt the truth of sad situational stories about Northern Territory education, published in ‘The Weekend Australian’ and ‘Australian’ weekday editions since September 23. All have been revealing of present situations.

However, I want to correct the perception that nothing good or positive has ever been part of the Aboriginal Education framework in the NT.

Chronic non-attendance has been identified as a critical deficiency.

I was the principal of Numbulwar School from September 1976 until December 1978. I was then principal of Angurugu School for four years, 1979 – 1982. During my years of leadership in those schools, attendance was not an issue: As principal, I made sure that students not only attended regularly but were also as fully supported as possible through programs offered. This was achieved through solid ties maintained with parents and councils in both communities.

Programs included instruction in the vernacular and English languages, achieved through Indigenous Assistants and Non-Indigenous teachers co-teaching primary classes.

Our secondary program prepared students for work through work experience, vocational training and trainee link programs. These programs were undertaken in partnership with the mining company GEMCO, various government instrumentalities and the local community government council.

The present situation, as reported, greatly disappoints me. However, good things happened in past times, and those educational successes deserve to be noted.