Feedback so far from early OLPC schools is impressive. Most impressive of all in the first year is Doomadgee State School. In remote, largely indigenous northwest Queensland, Doomadgee has just produced stunning NAPLAN results, boosting their percentage of Year 3 pupils at or above national minimum standards in numeracy from 31 per cent last year to a staggering 95 per cent in 2011. Principal Richard Barrie and his teachers are using plenty of clever and different engagement strategies, but one important tool in the toolbox is the early and strong use of technology via the OLPC Australia

Particularly in regard to rural communities, there should be no excuse today for geography to be a barrier to learning. Through connected on-line learning, children anywhere can quickly move from being passive consumers of knowledge (if at all) to an active participant in learning. As well, there is a sense of ownership of the computer, and it is a very real and comparatively cheap method of encouraging school attendance, something I note is a particular and welcome focus in the Northern Territory education system under Chief Minister Paul Henderson

A request of $12m has been put to the federal government, with $3m already requested from the Aboriginal benefit accounts, demonstrating the desire within the indigenous community to support real and practical self-empowerment and education programs