REVELATIONS that four Bathurst region public schools are already operating above capacity present an immediate challenge for local education policy makers.
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And the knowledge that the squeeze is likely to get worse before it gets better means medium and long-term solutions must be found. But there is no need to panic, although it’s worth exploring what might factors have contributed to this situation.
The first is a factor at play at most schools across the country – there are now more kids than just a few years ago.
Former treasurer Peter Costello’s bid to boost Australia’s fertility rates – “one for mum, one for dad and one for the country” – and associated family tax benefits is now impacting on schools a decade later.
The first of Peter Costello’s baby boomer children are now in primary school and in many cases there are one or two siblings behind them.
Second, we have also seen an end to the flight from public education that had been evident in Australia for 20 years or more.
Recent enrolment figures show a higher percentage of parents are now choosing public education, reversing a long-term slide in those figures, and that is putting pressure on local schools that cannot say no.
That may be a reflection of the number of children being born into lower income families as a result of Mr Costello’s bonuses, but can also be explained by a concerted public relations campaign pushing the benefits of public education to the individual and community.
Local public schools might not yet have the manicured grounds of some of the more exclusive private schools across the state but the resourcing in the classrooms, particularly in relation to technology, and the commitment and professionalism of the teaching staff is improving all the time.
These factors really matter to parents considering their children’s education options.
So while bursting public schools present a challenge for the state government, it’s a nice challenge to have. Booming enrolments are proof that public schools are doing something right and that is to be celebrated.
Naturally, it takes time for infrastructure such as new rooms to catch up and that sort of planning must take a longer view.
In the meantime, there will be schools operating beyond capacity but the aim should be to limit the time schools face that prospect. Public education has become a victim of its own success.