Indigenous education in the Northern Territory is failing to meet students' basic needs and an urgent overhaul is needed, a government report says.
The report, released on Friday, recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the education system to give Indigenous students the best chance at life.
"These students are the territory's future and the system is leaving them behind," Education Minister Peter Chandler said in a statement.
"[The report] describes an education system that is currently failing to meet students' most basic needs and is in urgent need of reform.
"The report paints a deeply concerning picture about the system's inability to provide the best quality education to our children."
He says the study is the most thorough review of the Indigenous education system in the territory for more than 15 years.
It showed literacy and numeracy results for remote Indigenous students fall well below the results of students in major centres in the Northern Territory and remote communities in other jurisdictions.
The draft review is especially critical of the delivery of secondary education in very remote schools.
It outlined 37 recommendations including a sharper focus on early years programs, literacy in primary schools, the delivery of secondary education, the structure of the department and attendance.
Other recommendations include community engagement, student wellbeing and behaviour management, roles and responsibilities of teachers and principals, workforce planning and funding arrangements.
Public consultation on the report will be held across the territory before a final report is submitted.
"Once finalised, this report will be one of the most important policy papers considered by government," Mr Chandler said.
He also says the government's approach to Indigenous education going forward will be results driven.
*Submissions can be made to iereview.decs@nt.gov.au and close on 9 March.
