The Wire

The New South Wales Auditor General has issued a damming report on the state of indigenous literacy levels, saying that the goal to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students by 2018 is looking increasingly unlikely.

According to the report, 40 per cent of aboriginal students in Year 3 are at or below the minimum standard for reading, a figure which increases to 50 per cent by Year 5.The Wire’s Matteo Gagliardi spoke to literacy reformer and Professor of Education at Macquarie University, Kevin Wheldall, and Professor of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, Dennis Foley, about the issue.