An education union has called for bold changes in the way the South Australian Education Department manages education across the state, particularly in country schools.
Australian Education Union (SA Branch) president Andrew Gohl says for over a decade, governments have banked on the goodwill of educators to keep their system running.
“We’re now paying the price for that, particularly in country schools. We commissioned research by the University of South Australia, titled ‘Teachers at Breaking Point’, which made strong recommendations to improve public education in South Australia,” Mr Gohl said.
He said the Department’s own Country Education Strategy highlighted several areas that needed improvement, including the attraction and retention of staff, incentives, access to student support services, country housing, and conditions.
“But we’re still seeing little progress in making any real change. It’s time the department started trusting and valuing educators.”
Mr Gohl said country teachers were committed to their communities.
“You’re working without the same support city teachers receive, picking up whatever needs to be done.
“When country schools are struggling, it’s on the government to offer real, system-level change to make sure our country kids and educators get the same opportunities as everyone else.
“If country communities don’t have enough teachers, kids miss out. That’s not a school issue, that’s a system issue.
“Some schools can paper over these cracks better than others, so it’s time we all had an honest conversation about how much of a crisis this really is. Then we can get on with addressing it.”
He said many parents don’t send their children to country schools because of the lack of opportunities or based on individual circumstances.
“I grew up and spent a big part of my teaching career working in the country. The sense of community and support in our country towns is amazing and can be such a great way for kids to have a safe and happy childhood.
“But I think kids need to feel excited by the opportunities their town offers, and again, I think that comes down to government initiatives.
“Investment in country communities means everyone flourishes, and kids can see a future in the country they’re excited for.
“There are a lot of different reasons parents choose different schools for their kids. It’s an assessment of individual circumstances and the needs of the child. Different schools can specialise in different things, and subject offerings are often a factor.”
A South Australian Department of Education spokesperson said there was no suggestion of parents currently being dissatisfied with the Naracoorte High School.
The spokesperson said there was a wide variety of educational choices in the region.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
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