ISSUES highlighting the difference in education outcomes between urban and rural and remote students and the increasing cost of accessing appropriate education will be high on the agenda next week at the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) Queensland annual state conference in Townsville.
ICPA President, Andrew Pegler said families and communities continue to struggle with the rising cost of boarding fees and lack of suitable government policies.
"There is escalating pressure on families to maintain a good education for their children as costs inflate and continued access to a quality education becomes more difficult," Mr Pegler said.
"The decline in rural and remote areas is exacerbating the problem as more services are pulled from communities and less support is forthcoming," he said.
He said the government’s 30 year plan highlights the shortcomings in education in rural and remote areas but doesn’t yet include strategies to overcome the disparity.
"Recognising the problem is the first step towards solutions but until there is some action and more of a balance, the students will continue to suffer.
"The disadvantage becomes more apparent the further you go from urban centres - a fact that needs rectifying because a family’s choice to live where they do shouldn’t impact on educational outcomes for their children."