Territorians should be proud of the achievement of NT Schools in the 2006 National Awards for Quality Schooling, Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon said today.

Mr Snowdon said three Territory schools and one teacher had been mentioned in the awards, which were announced in Canberra today.

“These awards tell us that we have good reason to be confident about the way the school system is preparing our children for the future,’ Mr Snowdon said.

‘The awards are:

• For Outstanding National Achievement in School Improvement: The NT Music School for its literacy and well being through the arts program

• For Highly Commended National Achievement in School Improvement: Jabiru Area School for its Indigenous students’ participation and success and St Paul’s School for growing a positive learning environment

• For Highly Commended National Achievement by a Teacher: Ms Donna Mincham, coordinator of the Ludmilla Alternative Pathway Program.

‘It’s particularly pleasing that these awards come at a time when schools are bearing the brunt of the blame for allegedly lowering standards in education.

‘The common factor in these awards is that they are for work that has underpinned significant improvements in school performance.

’It tells me that schools are rising to the challenge and they’re showing they can deliver the goods

‘This underlines the need for parents – and indeed for the community at large – to get behind schools and support the valuable work they’re doing.

‘We should all do our bit to make sure that NT Schools are great schools,’ Mr Snowdon said.