The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe today called on the Brumby Government to address a concerning decline in Gippsland’s high school retention rates.
Mr Northe said new research by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition showed the percentage of students remaining at high school in Gippsland until year 12 had fallen from 71 per cent in 2002 to 66.8 per cent in 2009.
“The Brumby Government must address this slump in retention rates as a matter of urgency,” Mr Northe said.
“Our high schools and country students are doing a magnificent job with the resources they have, but Labor has failed to support them.
“The number of students dropping out of school has grown by 4.2 per cent in just seven years while Gippsland’s university application rates are lower than anywhere else in Victoria.
“Last year the all-party Education and Training Committee found less than 70 per cent of Gippsland students are applying for university places.”
Mr Northe said by failing to properly resource its schools, Labor was limiting opportunities for young people in the Latrobe Valley.
“These figures represent a failure of the government’s commitment to make education its greatest priority,” Mr Northe said.
“It is a fact that under the Brumby Government, Victorian schools receive the lowest funding per student of any state or territory in Australia.
“The Brumby Government has done very little to support an education system which is clearly not catering to the needs of our students.
“Many schools are also struggling to deal with a backlog of maintenance and an education department which is being overseen by a part-time Minister.
“It’s high time the Brumby Government took responsibility for these problems and addressed the difficulties schools in the Latrobe Valley are facing,” Mr Northe said.
Media contact: Russell Northe (03) 5133 9088
