The State School Teachers Union suspects a plan to cut years 11 and 12 from 21 WA district high schools is part of a Government cost cutting exercise.

Year 11 and 12 subjects have already been cut at schools including Wyndham, Dalwallinu and Kelleberin, and the State Government intends to phase out courses at other country schools over the next three years.

The President of the State School Teachers Union Anne Gisborne says the decision will have a significant impact on students, parents and teachers in regional areas.

“I find it interesting that right now at this particular point when the education department is facing major problems with Buswell’s three per cent cuts, that they’ve decided to move in this direction.”

Years 11 and 12 subjects have already been cut at schools including Wyndham, Dalwallinu and Wagin, while courses at other country schools will be phased out over the next three years.

Students affected by the cuts can either study through the School of Isolated and Distance Education, travel to the nearest senior high school or attend a boarding college.

The Education Minister Liz Constable insists scrapping the courses is not about cost-cutting.

“In fact, it doesn’t save very much money at all but what it does do is give young people in Western Australia opportunities.”

The Minister says having fewer than 10 students in a year group is not appropriate.

“I’d think it’s most unfair for young people in a district high school where there’s very few students and we cannot provide the breadth and depth of subjects to find that they don’t have the same opportunities as youngsters in bigger centres.”

“The most appropriate schooling in Year 11 and 12 is at a senior high school, not at a district high school.”

Disadvantages

Affected students are being encouraged to go to the nearest senior high school but the Nationals MP Grant Woodhams says that is not always reasonable.

“You’re probably going to end up doing over 200 kilometres a day, some students.”

The Opposition’s education spokeswoman, Michelle Roberts, says cutting the classes will further disadvantage students in rural WA.

“We already know that accessing a good education is generally harder for country students, to progress to university is generally harder for country students, so what we should be doing is not increasing the hurdles.

Ms Roberts says the government should have focused on getting more teachers to rural WA.

“It’s this government, a government that professes to be supporting country people that’s actually removing the availability for students of doing those courses locally, now this is quite simply a cut to education in country areas.”

Before the school leaving age was raised to 17, district high schools only went up to Year 10.

The schools where Year 11 and 12 were cut this year are:

Wyndham District High School;

Dalwallinu District High School;
Mukinbudin District High School;
Narembeen District High School;
Quairading District High School;
Brookton District High School;
Corrigin District High School; and
Wagin District High School.

Schools where Year 12 is being offered this year but not Year 11 are:

Kojonup District High School;

Gnowangerup District High School;
Southern Cross District High School;
Wyalkatchem District High School;
Carnamah District High School (to maintain their VET program);
Dongara District High School;
Boddington District High School (continued negotiation between Boddington & Narrogin re VET);
Gingin District High School;
Wongan Hills District High School;
Jurien Bay District High School;
Lake Grace District High School; and
Mullewa District High School

Year 12 won’t be offered at these schools in 2011

Roebourne District High School is having its Year 11 and 12 courses phased out over 2010, 2011, and 2012.