The Federal Government has released data that shows that there are now more indigenous children than ever before with access to preschool or kindergarten programs, making it likely that efforts to see all indigenous four-year-olds living in remote communities will have access to early childhood education by 2013 will be met this year.

The Closing the Gap Prime Minister’s Report 2013 tabled before Parliament earlier this week also shows progress is veing made towards the target of halving the gap for Year 12 attainment.

“The target of halving the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five by 2018 is also on track to be met,” Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.

“The Australian Government committed to the Closing the Gap targets because we knew that previous haphazard approaches to ending Indigenous disadvantage had not been good enough.”

The Closing the Gap report is available at www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/indigenous-australians/programs-services/closing-the-gap/closing-the-gap-prime-ministers-report-2013