The Department of Education has launched a new strategy to ensure regional students have access to all the education opportunities NSW can offer.
The Department said its Rural and Remote Education Strategy was designed to close the educational divide between rural students and their metropolitan counterparts.
“The strategy uses a whole-systems approach to provide contextualised support to rural and remote schools,” the Department said.
“This includes improved staff recruitment processes, access to more curriculum choices, supplying state-of-the-art technology and enabling stronger partnerships with education providers, vocational education suppliers and local industry,” it said.
Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell said the Strategy coordinated the delivery of more high-quality teachers with an ability to address local needs; provided training and support for teachers and principals; helped schools connect with their communities to ensure student wellbeing was addressed; and created pathways through partnerships with local industry, higher education providers and other post-school opportunities.
Ms Mitchell also announced her decision to create a Regional, Rural and Remote Policy Unit.
She said the new unit would be devoted to raising regional, rural and remote students’ educational outcomes, and implementing the State’s reform agenda in regional, rural and remote schools.
“Kids in the regions need a team that can drive reforms and implement programs to eliminate the equity gap that exists between the bush and the city,” Ms Mitchell said.
“When we talk about drought proofing, growing the economy and revitalising regional NSW, we are talking about quality education in the bush,” she said.
The Department’s 16-page Rural and Remote Education Strategy can be downloaded at this PS News link.
