Rural Education

Educational research recognises that students attending primary and secondary schools in geographically isolated areas can be disadvantaged by restricted access to educational opportunities when compared to metropolitan students. To minimise the effects of geographic isolation there are targeted programs to support students and schools in rural and remote areas.

This program provides access to senior curriculum in small rural schools leading to eligibility for the Higher School Certificate. Senior curriculum is provided through clusters of schools utilising joint resources and available technologies. The program is supported by supplementary staffing, funding, technology support and infrastructure.

The NSW Country Areas Program (NSW CAP) is an equity program that is provided to improve student outcomes for geographically isolated schools and school communities. It does so through supplementary funding and support of local and network initiatives that facilitate innovation and collaborations between students, teachers and school communities within local contexts.

• The Living Away From Home Allowance is a NSW Government allowance supporting access to secondary education for isolated students.
• The Boarding Scholarship for Isolated Students is a Department of Education and Communities equity provision for isolated rural students accessing NSW government specialist high schools.

Distance education provides fulltime education for students whose geographic isolation or other circumstance prevents them from attending a regular school.  Education is provided for students in Years P-12 through a network of autonomous and integrated distance education schools and centres. There is also a provision for single course enrolments to support curriculum access for students in schools unable to sustain a full curriculum from their own resources.

Access to distance education is targeted:

• to students with the greatest equity need.
• to the smallest or most isolated schools with the least capacity to provide a broad curriculum.

The program is supported by supplementary staffing, funding, technology infrastructure and support.