September 2004
An Israeli accelerated learning program to improve education for low-achieving children and adults in rural and remote Australia has just received government funding of $3 million.
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Improving literacy and numeracy: Dr Zane Ma Rhea.
Photo: Greg Ford |
The program is being delivered via a project co-directed by a Monash education lecturer.
Federal Education, Science and Training Minister Dr Brendan Nelson announced the funding in Melbourne on 26 August.
He said the Yachad Accelerated Learning project aimed to reduce the literacy and numeracy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Monash Education's Dr Zane Ma Rhea is working in a team with Professor Marcia Langton of Melbourne University and Ms Helene Teichmann of HTT Associates to develop and manage the innovative pilot project.
"It was conceived after Professor Langton's 2003 study tour to Israel where she saw great potential in the Tafnit accelerated learning program, which addresses education disadvantage via principles of gifted and talented education rather than remedial solutions," Dr Ma Rhea said.
"The overriding principle is that the national school curriculum should be taught to educationally disadvantaged groups in the classroom, along with additional accelerated learning classes before and after school, to bring the students up to the national average."
The current focus is on three trial sites -- Halls Creek and surrounding areas in Western Australia's East Kimberley region, Cape York in Queensland and Shepparton in northern Victoria.
"We anticipate that student performance in each trial area will be commensurate with, or will exceed, the national average by the year 2007," Dr Ma Rhea said.
Michele Martin
Contact:
zane.marhea@education.monash.e du.au
Ph: +61 3 9905 2823 | 
