Teaching at
Jilkminggan
School
Jilkminggan School services the community of Jilkminggan with an approximated population of 200-300 people. It is situated in Mangarrayi country on Elsey Station, 37 km east of Mataranka in the Katherine Region, NT.
When Aboriginal families left Elsey Station for Jilkminggan in 1974, attendance declined at the school at Elsey Station. In 1975, the Department of Education moved the Elsey School mobile units to Jilkminggan (or Djembere as it was known then). The new primary school buildings were completed in 1993. Facilities include 2 classrooms (one for Transition - Year 2; one for Year 3 - 6), a library, administration block and amenities.
These buildings were a great improvement on the 'Silver Bullets', being of sound block construction on concrete slabs. Split air-conditioning and special floor coverings also contribute to noise reduction which improves the learning environment for those students who are hearing impaired.
The secondary school was set up in 1987 by parents, who donated a 'donga' and built a bough shade, so their children didn't have to leave the community to pursue secondary studies. At first, students were enrolled with NT Secondary Correspondence School and were assisted by Indigenous tutors. In 1992, the Department of Education took over the responsibility for the secondary students and provided a teacher.
Today Jilkminggan School consists of 5 classrooms for pre-school students through to senior secondary students.
