Drought schools need program to continue

By Owen Hasler

Federation has once again written to Minister Refshauge seeking the continuation of the Drought Affected Schools Program which has operated for the past two years.

Federation has drawn the Minister's attention to the fact the prolonged drought has had disastrous consequences for many rural communities and the schools which service those communities. Many of these communities have lost significant populations and this has had negative impacts in terms of staffing, educational offerings and programming disruptions in their schools. These have been ameliorated to some extent during 2003-2004 for the schools who obtained additional staffing due to the Drought Affected Schools Program initiated by the NSW Government after calls by Federation and parent groups.

Schools such as Croppa Creek Public School in far north-western NSW have benefited from the program in 2004 but see their problem being accentuated in 2005 if the program is not continued.

Principal Gareth Hockings said the effects of the drought are ongoing and will continue until the district has at least one good season and recovers some employment opportunities for workers on the local properties.

"The local farmers indicate that they will be employing people again when they are in a position to do so but in the meantime our numbers are marginal for holding our second teacher," Mr Hockings said.

"The problem will be aggravated if we do drop to one teacher (a PP5 school) in 2005 as this will only encourage parents to remove their children and probably send them to private schools which will be counter productive for the long term viability of the school in the community."

Federation Representative Melinda Squire said lower class sizes in small schools are essential.

"This would allow small schools to gain some betterment from the government's agreement to lower K,1&2 class sizes," Ms Squire said.

"It would also recognize the demands of operating a school with all the technology changes and other demands, in a small rural community where the school is seen as more than just a classroom.

Federation Senior Vice President Angelo Gavrielatos, who visited the school on August 26, said what was happening at Croppa Creek Public School was typical of what is happening in many of our smaller rural PP5s and PP6s.

"We believe that all PP5s and PP6s should have two teachers appointed for a number of reasons including child protection and occupational health and safety issues," Mr Gavrielatos said.

"We have put this position to the Department of Education and Training and believe that it is achievable at a minimal cost to the Government and we will be pursuing these issues through the Small Schools Committee of Federation.

"The Committee recently met with Trish Kelly, General Manager of Human Resources, on Thursday 29 July, 2004, and a number of issues affecting Small Schools were canvassed."

"A further meeting will be held in October which will provide another opportunity for the matter to be raised," Mr Gavrielatos said.

"In the meantime all schools which believe they have a substantial case to support their claim to 'drought effected status' should be writing to their local member of parliament and the Minister for Education and Training, as well as submitting applications for supplementary staffing, based upon quantifiable evidence of population loss due to the drought."

"City based governments need to recognise that recovery from drought is a lengthy process, not something achieved by one good season," Mr Gavrielatos added.

Owen Hasler is a Country Organiser.

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