Nationals Member for Clarence Richie Williamson has condemned the Minns Labor Government for axing distance education for some of the most disadvantaged and disengaged students in the Northern Rivers.
Mr Williamson has condemned the government following news the Southern Cross School of Distance Education at Ballina will cease to operate this week.
The School delivers education to students between Coffs Harbour, Tenterfield and the Queensland border.
Mr Williamson said he had been informed that all face-to-face distance education services have been terminated without warning or without a plan moving forward with students, parents, and teachers left completely in the dark.
“This is not good enough and I’m calling on the Education Minister Prue Car to come clean,” Mr Williamson said.
“The education of some of the most vulnerable children in our community has been affected and I question why parents and teachers were given no warning.
“Here we are celebrating Education Week across the state while the NSW Government is dismantling the system, impacting some of our most disadvantaged learners.”
Mr Williamson said it was the biggest public education axing ever seen in the Northern Rivers, with up to 40 teachers and staff forced to transfer from their distance education jobs to other roles within the Department of Education.
“This is just outrageous on so many levels with no education being delivered to disengaged students and the morale of teachers at an all-time low,” Mr Williamson said.
“It seems Minister Car plans to unenroll the students to solve the government’s financial problems.
“These students are some of the most at-risk in the region. The mainstream education system has failed them, and now the Minns Labor Government is failing them too.
“It’s a real kick in the guts for students, their families, and their teachers. Every student deserves to receive a quality public education, and I’m calling on the Premier and Education minister to do better and provide answers.”
