❓ Mr. Hyde questions the Minister for Education about the low Indigenous enrolment in public gifted and talented schools compared to private schools. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines steps taken to address it, highlighting a specific case and departmental directives.
AnsweredQoN 165Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDIGENOUS ENROLMENTS — GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTs
I refer to the low level of Indigenous enrolments in our public gifted and talented selective schools. (1) Is the minister aware that elite public schools such as Shenton College, Perth Modern School and Applecross Senior High School have no Indigenous enrolment, yet elite private schools such as Guildford Grammar School, Wesley College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College have two per cent Indigenous enrolment and Trinity College has three per cent Indigenous enrolment? (2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I refer to the low level of Indigenous enrolments in our public gifted and talented selective schools. (1) Is the minister aware that elite public schools such as Shenton College, Perth Modern School and Applecross Senior High School have no Indigenous enrolment, yet elite private schools such as Guildford Grammar School, Wesley College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College have two per cent Indigenous enrolment and Trinity College has three per cent Indigenous enrolment? (2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(1) Is the minister aware that elite public schools such as Shenton College, Perth Modern School and Applecross Senior High School have no Indigenous enrolment, yet elite private schools such as Guildford Grammar School, Wesley College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College have two per cent Indigenous enrolment and Trinity College has three per cent Indigenous enrolment? (2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(1) Is the minister aware that elite public schools such as Shenton College, Perth Modern School and Applecross Senior High School have no Indigenous enrolment, yet elite private schools such as Guildford Grammar School, Wesley College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College have two per cent Indigenous enrolment and Trinity College has three per cent Indigenous enrolment? (2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(2) Given that Western Australian private schools pursue both academic excellence and inclusion and opportunity for Aboriginal students, why does the minister allow our elite public schools to ignore this challenge? (3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(3) Will the minister make a commitment today that she will create a policy of minimum enrolment of Indigenous students in our public gifted and talented selective schools? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
(1)–(3) The member for Perth raises a very important issue, and on this National Close the Gap Day, he asks a very relevant question. The matter that he has raised was drawn to my attention last year when I was at the year 7 graduation at West Leederville Primary School. The principal of that school talked to me about a particularly bright young Aboriginal student who had missed out on getting into Shenton College because of the strict rules applied in the selection of students in the secondary gifted and talented program. In the car on the way home, I phoned the Director General of Education and said how disappointed I was with the attitude that Shenton College had shown in this case. This young lass was eventually offered a full scholarship at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, as the principal of Shenton College took the trouble to call PLC and speak to its principal. I have put the department on notice on this issue. I indicated that I expected it to ensure that young gifted, talented, bright Aboriginal students have the same opportunities in our public schools.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.