RREAC schools tour brings up education issues
L-R: RREAC Executive Officer Emmy Terry; NCSEHE Director Professor Sue Trinidad; Great Southern Development Commission CEO Bruce Manning and RREAC Chair Hon. Brian Ellis, MLC Member for the Agricultural Region
The Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council recently spent three days touring the Great Southern region, in order to gain insight and feedback into the educational needs of schools and students in the region.
Twelve RREAC members, along with eight WA Aboriginal Education and Training Council members, visited the Regional Development Commission, the University of Western Australia, Mt Barker Community College, North Albany Senior High School, and the new early-childhood facilities at St Joseph’s College.
Priorities identified for the region include literacy and technology, the attraction and retention of graduate teachers, the need to engage Indigenous communities, and the recent State Government decision to transition Year 7 students to high school.
While in Albany, the council heard from St Joseph’s principal Mr Bradley Hall who said, “It’s quite concerning the number of students who finish school with an ATAR, qualify for university but circumstances do not allow them to go on to a tertiary education. Often these circumstances relate back to financial ones.”