The National Curriculum Services has handed an independent review of the performance of Victoria’s four indigenous Koorie Pathways Schools, suggesting that the performance and effectiveness of them be examined.

 

State Education Minister Martin Dixon , who will now consider the review, said the priority was to provide the best possible education for Victoria's Koorie students.

 

"We are reviewing all of our major programs to ensure they are effective in closing the gap between the education outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students," Mr Dixon said.

 

The Pathways Schools in Glenroy, Swan Hill, Mildura and Morwell began operating in April 2009.

 

The schools' role has been to reconnect with mainstream schooling students who have disengaged or are at risk of dropping out of school.

 

Among the concerns identified in the review was the fact that enrolments at the Pathways Schools accounted for just 0.7 per cent of Koorie students in Victoria, yet the KPS are absorbing 16 per cent of funding for Koorie students.

 

Of the 10,600 Koorie students attending Victorian schools around 60 are enrolled in Koorie Pathways Schools.

 

With the exception of Ballerrt Mooroop in Glenroy, which was de-staffed at the end of last year with only one student attending the school, the remaining schools will continue to operate while the findings of the report are considered and until any further decisions are made.

 

The Review of Koorie Pathways Schools report is available on www.education.vic.gov.au/wannik