Aboriginal people are, and have been for many years, unhappy about the education system. They do not believe it meets their needs, they want to be consulted about it and have some control over its delivery to their children. This report is currently the most authoritative and accurate report on Aboriginal Education in Western Australia. On the other hand, Aboriginal people are neither willing nor able to discard their culture and language. It would seem that despite the recommendations which have been made for many years there has been a failure by Commonwealth and State Governments and of Catholic Education to adequately respond to the aspirations and needs of Aboriginal people.
Most Aboriginal people are clear what they want from the education system.
They are insistent that their children need to be taught the 'Aboriginal way', with their communities having their own schools, their own teachers and own curriculum. They see it as necessary for teaching their children the important things about Aboriginal life. Aboriginal adults are often conscious of the difficulties associated with being able to say and get what they want from schools. Today its role needs to be strengthened and expanded, so that Aboriginal people through regional committees can take more than an advisory role in setting the directions of Aboriginal education in this State.