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Minister launches 'ambitious' report on rural education

July 20, 2006

NatRep.thumb.jpgThe Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, visited The University of New England today to launch the results and recommendations of the largest education survey concerning rural and regional issues ever carried out in Australia. Accompanied by the Federal Member for Gwydir, John Anderson, she also took the opportunity to formally announce the Government's commitment to the establishment of a new, collaborative rural medical school, with 60 undergraduate places at UNE and 20 at the University of Newcastle.

The National Survey was in response to the fact that students in rural and regional schools have not been achieving to the same levels in science, mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) subjects as their city counterparts.

Conducted in 2005 by the National Centre of Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR), based at UNE, the survey elicited responses from about 3,000 primary and maths/science secondary teachers - and nearly 1,000 parents - in 1,400 schools across all States and Territories. It found that rural and regional schools had a higher annual staff turnover than city schools, fewer opportunities for their teachers' professional development, and a greater unmet need of resources and support. Country parents, while they appreciated the commitment and enthusiasm of teachers, were concerned about whether their children had adequate access to a good range of learning experiences and opportunities such as excursions and visits by experts.

Minister Bishop referred to the survey as "ambitious" and the report as "comprehensive and authoritative". "Its recommendations should be taken seriously," she said, and suggested that "we should look at incentives: rewarding teachers for working in challenging environments, and for their outcomes".

The report's principal recommendation is the formation of a National Rural School Education Strategy that would coordinate all government and non-government education jurisdictions - and develop collaborative research and support programs - to address these educational inequities. Referring to this as a "serious recommendation", Minister Bishop said it was one that she would "certainly take on board".

UNE's Professor John Pegg, Director of SiMERR and Leader of the National Survey team, acknowledged the vision of John Anderson, who played a leading role in the establishment of SiMERR with Commonwealth Government funding, and who (as Deputy Prime Minister) officially opened the Centre just two years ago.

"I believe the underachievement of rural school students, approximately one-third of our student population, is one of the most pressing issues in education in Australia today," Professor Pegg said. "This National Survey has been a vital first step in addressing that issue." Professor Pegg thanked all his colleagues - including Dr Terry Lyons for the "quality work, energy, conscientious approach, and good humour that he has brought to his role as the SiMERR National Survey Manager and as the editor of the report".

Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor of UNE, welcomed and thanked the Minister and Mr Anderson, commended Professor Pegg and his team on the report, and pointed out that members of SiMERR at its State and Territory "hubs" throughout Australia were watching the launch via a video link.

The National Survey was conducted with funding of $250,000 from the Australian Government. The report launched today is contained in three separate volumes: the full report on (and recommendations from) the National Survey, an abridged National Survey report, and a report of findings from a series of "focus group" interviews with teachers, parents and students in 38 rural and remote schools across all States and Territories. These interviews, organised by the SiMERR "hubs", gave "hope of real and sustainable change", Professor Pegg said, through "glimpses of new, alternative ways of working and thinking in difficult circumstances".

The report can be found at:
http://simerr.une.edu.au/national_survey/index.html

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows (from left) Professor John Pegg, the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, the Federal Member for Gwydir, John Anderson, and Professor Alan Pettigrew at today's launch of the National Survey report.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 20, 2006 03:33 PM