Preschoolers living in remote NSW can now access early childhood education as the Department of Education brings School of the Air on board to establish flexible learning programs.
School of the Air is a term for correspondence schools in remote areas where some or all classes are historically conducted by radio.
Announcing the new programs in Ivanhoe, Louth and Pooncarie, Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole said the Department’s approach would allow bespoke delivery of programs for children in remote parts of the State, including engagement through School of the Air and partnerships with local schools.
“This is a win for our little ones in the regions and I am excited that they will have the same opportunities as their city counterparts, despite living in some of the most remote parts of the state,” Mr Toole said.
“We know that this will have enormous benefits and long-term impacts for the rest of their lives and help to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.”
He said that two days a week, preschoolers at Ivanhoe would participate in both face-to-face learning and online learning through the School of the Air.
Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the flexible learning programs were part of the Department’s Rural and Remote Education Strategy, established to ensure that children in rural and remote communities had access to quality early childhood education in the year before school.
