Practical reconciliation and continuing disadvantage in Indigenous education

• Boyd Hunter, Jerry Schwab
• Australian Review of Public Affairs

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19 December 2003If 'practical reconciliation' is a reality, there should be convergence
in the economic and educational status of Indigenous and other
Australians. However, while there have been absolute improvements in
Indigenous educational attainment from 1986 to 2001, gains are less
evident when measured relative to non-Indigenous attainment. By any
measure, Boyd Hunter and Jerry Schwab show, Indigenous Australians remain severely disadvantaged, and poor
educational attainment is the key barrier to sustainable improvements in
their socioeconomic status.