Conflict And Coordination:A Study On Australia's Indigenous Education Policy

Educational equity is the starting point and the value pursuit of educational policy which is named as the greatest tool for the realization of social equity.Australian governments,inspired by multiculturalism,have introduced many extraordinary and preferential aboriginal education policies,as a result,Australia's aboriginal education has made some greatness achievements.This thesis systematically reviews the historical evolution of Australian aboriginal education policy since the late 1960s and on the basis of analysis of current aboriginal education policy practice to explain the main contents and practical effects as long as the background and decision making process of aboriginal education policy.Then I had pointed out the dilemma and imperfection after summarizing the orientations and characteristics of aboriginal education policy.The experience and lessons of Australian aboriginal education policy provide a reference for the education reform of China's ethnic minorities,so there is a great theoretical and practical significance for this research.The introduction focuses on the origin and research value of the topic,overviews on present research,and explains the core concept,theoretical references and research methods that are the foundation for the whole thesis.The chapter one is the origin of Australia's aboriginal education policy,Australia's aboriginal people had suffered from great spiritual and physical pain before the 1970s that were caused by policy of genocide,apartheid and assimilation.Indigenous had became most disadvantage people in the Australia at the time of introducing multiculturalism policy.The chapter two is the development and evolution of Australia's aboriginal education policy,I had reviewed the aboriginal history,the social,economic backgrounds and aboriginal people life status at the different policy periods to find out governments extrinsic and internal motivation to make and implement aboriginal education policy in the perspective of social conflict theory.I had summed up the main ideas and policy of Australian labor party and liberal party when they in power on aboriginal affairs in the last half century,especially pay close attention to some vital education policy.The chapter three is the general aboriginal education policy aimed for educational equity.I had reviewed aboriginal education policies at different levels from secondary and primary education to higher education on the perspectives of policy background,practice and outcomes to show the practice of aboriginal education policy in all-round and depth.The chapter four is various forms of aboriginal education policies that focusing on the needs of indigenous people.I had reviewed aboriginal education policies of different forms from bilingual education and vocational education and training on the perspectives of policy background and development history,and with the practice approach.The chapter five is the characteristics of aboriginal education policy:first,the multi-orientations of Australian aboriginal education policy like social justice orientation,community development orientation,skill compensation orientation,and cultural identity orientation;second,the changeable core of the educational policy from multiculturalism to educational opportunity equity and educational outcomes equity;third,mulit-policymaking bodies that relate to expression of aboriginal people educational demands;four,normalized assessment of policy outcome that concerntrate with educational ouecome improvement.The chapter six is the dilemma and imperfection of aboriginal education policy.This paper summarizes the dilemma and reflects on the shortcomings of Australia's aboriginal education policy that would be helpful to understand the policy and aim to look at the gains and losses of aboriginal education policies in Australia in a more objective and neutral way.The chapter seven is the prospect of aboriginal education policy.I will outlook the future development direction of aboriginal education policy in Australia:to coordinate the interests;update aboriginal education discourse;educational poverty alleviation;towards the harmonious.