3/5/02
The Aboriginal community of Yalga Jinna, north-west of Meekatharra, will have its own school next year, Education Minister Alan Carpenter announced today.
Mr Carpenter said the school, to be established at the cost of over $900,000, would include new classrooms, teacher accommodation and other infrastructure.
"This is part of the Government's strategy to increase school retention rates in the State by improving the delivery of education in remote communities," he said.
"The school will be administered from the Meekatharra District High School and will encompass the educational aims of the Yalga Jinna Community.
"To achieve this vision, the community requires a qualified teacher living on-site to provide formal education in purpose-built school facilities.
"The new school will help provide the children of the community with skills and knowledge that will be valuable to them for life. The school's education programs will incorporate the culture, values and traditions of the community."
The Yalga Jinna Community is approximately 125km north-west of Meekatharra and is home to about 50 people. The population fluctuates according to seasonal work on neighbouring stations.
The school age population in the community is made up of five pre-primary children, 10 primary children and five young women of secondary school age. A further 10 children visit the community regularly and stay with extended family members.
"A bigger school will mean these families will eventually move to the community," Mr Carpenter said.
"At present, schooling is conducted in a single classroom donated to the community by a local mining operation. An Aboriginal Islander education officer from the Department of Education supervises the students. The department's Meekatharra School of the Air provides students with individual lessons.
"With the number of children, computers, resources and furniture, the current classroom tends to be crowded and not conducive to a good learning environment.
"All costs for the school associated with repairs and maintenance, power, water, telephone and administration, currently met from the Community budget, will now be met by the Department of Education.
"The department will provide the funds for these recurring costs, as well as the funds for the building of new classrooms and teacher accommodation.
"Monitoring of the growth of the community and student enrolments will provide information to determine the most appropriate time for the establishment of a permanent school with it's own principal and administration."
Minister's office: 9213 6800
