NTEU Indigenous Forum Condemns 'Racism Protection Money Claims'
1 May 2001
National Indigenous representatives participating in the NTEU Indigenous Forum recently have jointly expressed deep concern and alarm regarding statements by Professor Marcia Langton that, \'Private school fees are protection money against racism\', published in the Australian on 19/04/2001:
As a matter of urgency, the National Tertiary Education Union calls on other indigenous education bodies to respond to Prof. Langton\'s claims on the basis they ignore embedded racism in all educational institutions and is not confined to any particular class. The forum is also concerned that Prof. Langton offers no evidence to support her views.
NTEU Executive Indigenous Representative Tracey Bunda commented that, \'The timing of these statements are an absolute disgrace given the DETYA figures released 12th April 2001, already indicating a 15.2% decline in Indigenous student university commencements and a 9.9% drop in completions between 1999/200\'.
Indigenous NTEU Life Member Dr Bob Morgan says: \'Prof. Langton has reduced the issue of racism in education to a simplistic unsubstantiated statement that further attacks an already diminished incentive for Indigenous students to study within public institutions, resulting from federal cuts to ABSTUDY, and other indigenous programs. \'What\'s equally disturbing is the statements impact most heavily on Indigenous students who have just completed their HSC examinations by immediately downgrading of the value of their academic achievements, which in turn negatively impact on Indigenous student potential to continue in education\'. Dr Morgan said.
NTEU Indigenous Forum Chairperson and ACTU Executive Indigenous Representative Ann Flood stated, \'Professor Langton has also maligned the work being done by staff, students and communities working with public education institutions, and as a consequence calls on Prof. Langton not only to, \'apologise for the damage and insult her statements cause all who are battling to improve public educational opportunities for indigenous people, but also for the hurt to the students who have had the value of their education publicly belittled\'.