The plan was developed after calls in early 2009 by a working party of indigenous leaders led by Mick Dodson and instigated by the Australian Education Union to form a 25-year inter-generational plan to end the piecemeal approach of the past.

The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs endorsed the plan at its meeting on April 15 last year and sent it to the Council of Australian Governments for final endorsement.

But the education ministers meeting noted it should not wait for COAG approval to proceed with the plan, with a briefing paper saying: "Late endorsement by COAG should not deter education providers from commencing implementation of the plan as early as possible in 2010."

Federal government sources said yesterday that Queensland was the only state yet to sign and the process had stalled with a change of education minister, but the paperwork was now with the premier's office and the final sign-off was expected soon.

The draft action plan identifies 862 schools that have "indigenous students with the greatest need and where effort will be focused to make the greatest difference".

"In the first instance, primary schools are to be targeted as focus schools so that effort is concentrated in the early years of learning," the briefing paper says.

Inquiries to some focus schools last week found they were unaware of being on the list and only one had been contacted.

The plan identifies six priority areas for action: readiness for school; engagement and connections; attendance; literacy and numeracy; leadership, quality teaching and workforce development; and pathways after school.

It also emphasises indigenous languages and culture, and students who do not speak English as their first language.

One of the members of the working party, University of South Australia professor Peter Buckskin, said yesterday a meeting with federal officials last month had focused on how to monitor and report on the action that had not yet occurred.

Professor Buckskin, dean of the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research and the chair of the Aboriginal education consultative committee in SA, said the intent was to agree on a way to take the politics out of indigenous education.

"We are frustrated because the plan hasn't been realised," he said.

"This is supposed to be an action plan responding to a crisis in Aboriginal education.

"Where's the urgency? COAG hasn't signed off on it yet, so how urgent can it be?"

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said: "It's terribly frustrating but, worse still, disappointing that there's been no progress in this area." A spokeswoman for federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett said that he expected the matter to be resolved shortly.

Federal government sources said yesterday that Queensland was the only state yet to sign and the process had stalled with a change of education minister, but the paperwork was now with the premier's office and the final sign-off was expected soon.

The draft action plan identifies 862 schools that have "indigenous students with the greatest need and where effort will be focused to make the greatest difference".

"In the first instance, primary schools are to be targeted as focus schools so that effort is concentrated in the early years of learning," the briefing paper says.

Inquiries to some focus schools last week found they were unaware of being on the list and only one had been contacted.

The plan identifies six priority areas for action: readiness for school; engagement and connections; attendance; literacy and numeracy; leadership, quality teaching and workforce development; and pathways after school.

It also emphasises indigenous languages and culture, and students who do not speak English as their first language.

One of the members of the working party, University of South Australia professor Peter Buckskin, said yesterday a meeting with federal officials last month had focused on how to monitor and report on the action that had not yet occurred.

Professor Buckskin, dean of the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research and the chair of the Aboriginal education consultative committee in SA, said the intent was to agree on a way to take the politics out of indigenous education.

"We are frustrated because the plan hasn't been realised," he said.

"This is supposed to be an action plan responding to a crisis in Aboriginal education.

"Where's the urgency? COAG hasn't signed off on it yet, so how urgent can it be?"

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said: "It's terribly frustrating but, worse still, disappointing that there's been no progress in this area." A spokeswoman for federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett said that he expected the matter to be resolved shortly.