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7.3 Indigenous cultural studies in school curriculumand involvement of Indigenous people indevelopment and delivery of Indigenous studiesBox 7.3.1Key messages• Between 2001 and 2005, the number of Indigenous teachers and Aboriginal andIslander Education Workers in schools increased from 3238 to 3596 (table 7.3.1).• Some primary and secondary schools are incorporating Indigenous studies in theircurricula, and Indigenous culture and perspectives are being incorporated into VETprograms offered at school. This can improve the number of Indigenous studentscompleting year 12 and improve all students’ knowledge and appreciation ofIndigenous culture (boxes 7.3.2 to 7.3.6).In consultations on the 2005 Report (SCRGSP 2007), differing views on thisindicator were expressed by various Indigenous organisations and communities.Responses from governments and agencies also differed.Some Indigenous organisations and communities were concerned that the attentionwas on culturally appropriate education for Indigenous people rather than goodacademic outcomes that are comparable to all students. Other Indigenousorganisations and communities believed cultural studies consolidated communityteaching and could assist to preserve Indigenous language. Indigenous culturalstudies also provides an opportunity for Indigenous people to share their knowledgewith the wider community.Approaches to incorporating Indigenous content into the school curriculum varywidely between education systems and between schools. Schools exist in variedcontexts and have varying numbers of Indigenous students. A quarter of schools hadno Indigenous students in 2005 (25.1 per cent); the remainder had some Indigenousstudents enrolled (48.1 per cent of schools had 0.1 to 5.0 per cent Indigenousstudents). In 1.8 per cent of schools, more than 95 per cent of students wereIndigenous and in 1.0 per cent of schools all students were Indigenous(DEST unpublished).Data for reporting against this indicator are very limited. The National Report toParliament on Indigenous Education and Training, 2004 (DEST 2006) providessome qualitative and quantitative information for this indicator.The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) collects limitedinformation related to this indicator from Indigenous Education Strategic InitiativesProgramme (IESIP) reports completed by individual education systems and schools.POSITIVE CHILDHOODAND TRANSITION TOADULTHOOD7.25