Queensland is very close to closing the gap in Indigenous Year 12 completion.

About 97.2 per cent of Indigenous students received a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) or a Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) in 2017, compared to 98.1 per cent of non-Indigenous students.

In 2013, that figure sat at just 75 per cent.

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace says the state has achieved Australia’s best result for Year 12 completion by students from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.

“That is closing the gap — it is a fantastic achievement and one that we here in Queensland should be very proud of,” Ms Grace said.

There was a 5 per cent increase in Indigenous students completing Year 12 between 2016 and 2017.

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) spokesperson Chris Ryder said it was a remarkable result.

“The achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in attaining a Queensland Certificate of Education has been nothing short of miraculous over the last five to eight years,” Mr Ryder said.

“It is because of the great work that is going on in schools, people are paying attention to making sure that young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students do well at school and that they offer subjects that meet their needs, abilities and interests.

“The other thing that I would like to point out is that, in the 98 new syllabuses that we have developed, we have developed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander subject that will be offered at the commencement of 2019 to Year 11 students.”

Ms Grace said the big drivers of change included increased case management and better information for students to stop them switching subjects in their senior year.