INQUIRY STARTS INTO EDUCATION PARTICIPATION

A Parliamentary inquiry, instigated by Eastern Region MP and new Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, Peter Hall, into the reasons why fewer country students participate in higher education is about to get underway.

Mr Hall is urging local people and organisations with an interest in education to consider making a submission to the inquiry by the State Parliament’s Education and Training Committee.

“The reality is that tertiary education participation rates for students in rural and regional Victoria have been on the decline for a number of years now, not least because of the clear difference in the ability for country students to access higher education facilities,” Mr Hall said.

“This inquiry is an important one because it will look at the reasons for those differences and make some recommendations as to how those issues can be overcome.”

Mr Hall, The Nationals’ Education spokesperson and a member of the Education and Training Committee, put the original motion to establish the inquiry in July last year. It received all party support, with the Committee now required to inquire into and report no later than 20 June 2009 on geographical differences in the rate at Victorian students participate in higher education.

“With many students – country and metropolitan – starting university and TAFE this month and next, the inquiry is timely,” Mr Hall said. “It is important that the Committee receives good information and I would encourage local people to consider making a submission.”

The committee will also be visiting a number of regional centres during this year.

A copy of the terms of reference can be obtained through Mr Hall’s office (telephone 51747066) the Committee’s office in Melbourne on telephone 03 8682 2821, or by visiting the Committee’s website at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc

“It is a particularly important inquiry for regions of Victoria, such as Gippsland,” Mr Hall said. “The statistics show quite clearly that if you live and go to school in country Victoria, you are less likely to go on and study at university than a student who lives and studies in Melbourne.

“There are no genetic reasons for these differences; no one can argue that country students are less intelligent than city students. The evidence suggests very strongly that where a young person lives, and a whole range of associated factors like the socioeconomic levels experienced by students and their families, influences educational outcomes. “

Mr Hall said he did not believe that going to University is the “holy grail” of education. “But it is important one for a range of reasons for those who want to go to higher education. Where we live should not impact on our ability to attend university if we choose to do so.”

Over the past five years, the number of country students enrolling in a university course after completing year 12 has fallen by about 4%. In some regions such as in the Western District and Ovens Murray, the declines have been over 20%. By contrast, the comparable figure during the same period for Melbourne-based students is an increase of 15%.

In Gippsland, the percentage of students who go to university is just over 30 per cent.

“This inquiry may well establish that geographic location is a disadvantage to people in country Victoria. If we can demonstrate this, there could be an opportunity to guide Government spending to try and redress this issue,” Mr Hall added.

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066