Students move back to public schools

By Maree O’Halloran

A Federation survey of principals of high and central schools on the number of enrolments of students formerly in the private system has yielded some interesting results. For a range of reasons, students are moving back to the public education system.

Principals of 148 high schools and 23 central schools replied to the Federation's survey. They reported significant enrolments in their schools from students enrolled in private schools in 2005. In total, in the 6th week of the school year, there were 2601 enrolments in these schools compared to 2386 for the whole of last year from students previously in private schools.

The reasons given by parents for the switch to the public system are also interesting. The breadth of curriculum available; better academic results and teacher quality; handling of discipline and bullying at private schools; and the cost of private education were the main reasons given.

Thank you to all Federation Representatives and principals who responded to the survey. Federation generated some good publicity with the results. In particular the Sun Herald story "Fees, bullies and poor results behind private school exodus" on Sunday March 19 was very good.

Maree O'Halloran is the President.

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April 2006 contents