Every morning, busloads of students leave Naracoorte for their secondary education in schools in Mount Gambier and Lucindale.

Each week, other students within our region catch buses to and from colleges in Hamilton, Victoria.

Many other parents choose boarding schools in Victoria and Adelaide, where students live during each school term.

While this could be a matter of choice for many, why do you think this is happening, and what’s driving the parents to make this decision when we have a public school in Naracoorte?

Is it the quality of education, the sourcing of teachers, the curriculum, or the general management of the school?

Many stakeholders in the South Australian education system The [Naracoorte Community] News spoke to say it’s “a concern” and someone needs to get to the bottom of it.

Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross says the education system needs to address the learning needs of all students and ensure there is flexibility and access for those who wish to enter the trades and agriculture via school-based apprenticeships, training providers, or technical colleges.

“We seem to have forgotten the demand for these skills within the regions,” Mr Ross said.

“I believe it is very important that the curriculum for each age group is delivered so the students have the best possible opportunity.

“I do understand that Naracoorte High School has had difficulties sourcing teachers, this may be a spinoff of not having appropriate housing available.”

He said education in Naracoorte was a state government department portfolio and had the greatest impact on what choices an individual could make for their future.

“The need for all young students to have a sound education that will deliver to them the basic building blocks for them to progress towards the workforce is essential.

“I understand that education is in some cases a choice that parents choose to make, understanding that the value they place on their children being educated is high, but not all parents are able to give their children the education they may wish, purely based on financial constraints.”

He said many families wish their children could have work and raise their own families here within our communities, but they also recognise there is a lack of opportunity and a pathway for this to happen.

“It is a concern for the council in general, as we want our district council area to be a place where families can grow and be supported with great job opportunities.

“The council has its Draft Strategic Plan out for public consultation at the moment, this document looks to set a pathway or vision on how our community can develop over the next 3–20 years, and we would be pleased to hear your thoughts.”

Responding to questions on the matter, 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.

“Some families in the Naracoorte area have long-standing, family connections with a number of boarding schools, with that tradition playing a part in their decision to send their children to boarding school too. These students would not be catching a bus daily,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Lucindale had an important role in the whole region, as it was one of four specialist agricultural schools in the South Australian public education system—a factor that may see families sending their child there for that academic specialisation.

“There are also families that choose to send their students to either the Catholic or Lutheran schools in Mount Gambier.”

The spokesperson said Naracoorte High School has had consistent enrolment numbers in the five years to 2022 (about 350 students) and increased to about 430 in 2022 as a result of the Year 7 transition to high school.

The spokesperson outlined that the school has a range of outstanding programs that enable students to successfully pursue appropriate pathways, including:

• A full range of subjects for students, whether they intend to continue to tertiary education, apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship, study at TAFE, or seek employment.
• Advanced learning programs are available to students with high intellectual potential.
• Excellent facilities that support student learning, including extensive computer/multimedia suites, agriculture, viticulture, and performing and visual arts centres,
• An agriculture building.

According to the spokesperson, the 2022 SACE cohort saw a 95 percent SACE completion rate, with 61 per cent achieving an ATAR.

In total, 27 A grades were achieved by the cohort across 12 different subjects at Stage 2, the spokesperson detailed.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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