Review of Regional, Rural and Remote Education in Australia

Senator Simon Birmingham, Federal Minister for Education and Training, has announced an Independent review into regional, rural and remote education. The review will be conducted by Emeritus Professor John Halsey, Flinders University. A discussion paper will be released in  April 2017, with a  final report due at the end of the year.

Scope of the Review

• "the gap in educational achievement between regional, rural and remote students and metropolitan students
• the key barriers and challenges that impact on the educational outcomes of regional, rural and remote students, including aspirations and access issues
• the appropriateness and effectiveness of current modes of education delivered to these students, including the use of information and communications technology and the importance of face to face regional, rural and remote education provision
• the effectiveness of public policies and programs that have been implemented to bridge the divide
• the gaps and opportunities to help students successfully transition from school to further study, training and employment
• innovative approaches that support regional, rural and remote students to succeed in school and in their transition to further study, training and employment."

From: Terms of Reference of the Independent review into regional, rural and remote education, Department of Education and Training, March 2017

I suggest that e-learning and vocational education have key roles in improving regional, rural and remote education. What we need to aim to do is provide education to students in the regions, ideally while those students are also employed in a job, apprenticeship or internship. or more on this, see my book "Digital Teaching In Higher Education".