Fed: Govt urged to increase support for rural education

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2007
Fed: Govt urged to increase support for rural education

A parents' group says the federal government should subsidise the cost of sending children
from remote areas to boarding school .. to improve their educational prospects.

Isolated Children's Parents Association president JACK BEACH says time's running out
to improve education for kids from the bush .. who have limited subjects on offer and
limited choice of schooling.

He's warning many students in remote areas are missing out on the education opportunities
their city cousins have.







Mr BEACH's comments come ahead of a conference in Albury this week examining the challenges
facing rural education.

The forum .. hosted by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal .. will come up
with priorities and recommendations for improving educational opportunities in remote
parts of Australia.

Professor MARGARET ALSTON .. who heads Charles Sturt University's Centre for Rural
Social Research .. says inaccessibility to schools and unis in rural areas is threatening
to become a national embarrassment.

She's predicting these problems .. coupled with drought and the increasing cost of
education .. will cause young people in rural Australia to fall further behind those
in city areas.

She says children who have to travel long distances or leave their home towns to be
educated face severe disadvantages.

Federal Education Minister JULIE BISHOP's expected to speak at the conference tomorrow.

AAP RTV dcr/mfh/rh/bart

KEYWORD: BOARDING (CANBERRA)

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