Punishing truancy is not the answer in Indigenous communities

[Extract] Indigenous education has been prioritised by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the states at the recent COAG meeting. The focus is on truancy, with a school attendance target of 90-100%. "Punitive" measures have been suggested, including truancy officers and extending income management. But punitive measures are unlikely to affect Indigenous education outcomes in any meaningful way because they don’t address the roots of the problem. More importantly, punitive measures are another attempt to remove the agency of Aboriginal people