Education in the Northern Territory
The Department of Education and Training (DET) aims to continually improve education outcomes for all students, with a focus on Indigenous students. We are committed to the principle of lifelong learning for all Territorians, regardless of age, gender or location.
The Department administers 150 government schools with total enrolments of approximately 33,000 students. DET employs over 3700 full-time teachers and support staff. Education was allocated a record budget of $636 million in the 2007-08 financial year.
The Department provides access to quality education that leads to employment, training or further education. These aims are supported by several strategies and projects including:
- Future SACE and NTCE
- Building Better Schools (Secondary Education Review)
- Accelerated Literacy
- Partnerships with higher education
- Early Years Framework
- Wellbeing project
The Middle Years is recognised as a distinct phase of schooling in the Territory. To ensure a smooth transition between the primary and secondary years and improve secondary education outcomes, the Middle Years approach will be implemented in government schools.
DET is committed to providing Indigenous students with quality education suited to their specific needs and requirements. These aims are supported by:
- Secondary provision in remote locations
- Indigenous partnerships.
DET is working towards resourcing and supporting Territory schools through several projects. The teacher recruitment campaign, launched in September 2004, aims to attract teachers to Territory schools and the establishment of the Teacher Registration Board will ensure a quality teaching force. The Department remains committed to retaining and reinvigorating the current teaching force.