Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that yesterday obviously we spoke about the
rolloush of well the phasing out of middle school and
the Education Department had joined us on the show and
told us more about how it was all going to happen.
We know that nt COGSO have indeed welcomed the government's
move to phase out those well the middle years schooling,
delivering on that key recommendation from the Secondary Education Reviews.
(00:23):
Long support it well, it has been this has been
long supported by Northern Territory families and joining us on
the line right now well from the nt Council of
Government School Organizations, the President Ruth Myram's good morning to
your Ruth.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Kati, good morning to your listeners. Lovely to
be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah, lovely to have you on the show, Ruth. I
know that nt COGSO was a key stakeholder in the
consultation process. What are some of the inclusions that you
guys really wanted to see and continue to want to
see as this role out occurs.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, we're really the key thing we're supporting here is
reducing transitions so that you know that change and that
disruption for our kids across their schooling is reduced and
at the same time, we want to see that they
have a really quality education with the pathway that they
choose into their secondary education. So we really, as you said,
(01:19):
we really welcome the change, but we're keeping our eyes
on what's happening and making sure that it's really gives
parents that choice and that children can thrive.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Now, you guys did have quite a bit of you know,
of consultation, and you were involved in that consultation process.
What do parents say to you when the question was
asked about the phasing out of middle school?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, in general, parents are supportive and it's it's obviously
going to look different in each location as well. So
you know, parents, I think in general want what's best
for their kids, and so what they want to see
is they were saying, you know, some of them saying, this,
really is it working. It's disruptive this middle school, you know,
experiments that we conducted, and now they're concerned that, you know,
(02:01):
what's it going to look like for my kids? What's
it going to look like in my location? You know,
what does it mean if my child's in year six
this year and they're going to year seven next year?
Can I be sure what I'm sending them to. So
we're really looking to the department and to the school
for that communication and to make sure you know that
parents have that choice, that they're informed and they can
be confident as they send their kids to school next year.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Now we know that middle schools, obviously in Darwin, Palmerston
Alice Springs, some of them are going to be phased
out from next year as you've touched on to become
those comprehensive high schools. There are others that it's going
to take a little bit longer. But there's also I
mean with those the ones that have been announced, some
of them are set to become specialized campuses. Is that
(02:43):
sort of a good move in the first instance, doing
it in this phased way?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Well, I think it's you know, in general, you want
what's right for each location. So where am I understanding
from the school councils in Darwen and in Central As
they did want a bit longer, So you know, we
welcome that and that refort that we're not going to
rush this. In terms of the specialized campuses, I think
it's great that our children have choice, but we would
really be looking that you know, they can have that
(03:10):
choice wherever they're located, and they're not having, you know,
to go to a different location or maybe leave their
friends to follow the pathway that they want to. So
we'd we're keeping our eyes on and are really interested
in how that choice is being offered to students wherever
they are.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Yeah, so in terms of the more regional and remote areas,
is that planned for what year? Is that planned for
twenty twenty seven or when's that going to happen?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
From your understanding, so form mindus saying So I'm actually
in remote, I'm down Intent and Creek, Katie. They're joining
you from down the track, so we don't yeah, Chilli
day down here, but we're enjoying a reprieve from the flyers.
Let me tell you this. So we don't have a
middle school here, so and I minders setting is that's
the case in a number of the regional locations. So
(03:56):
for us locally, it's not such a big deal. Our
kids finish their hips at the primary school that's where
my kids are, and then they go to the high
school and it's you know, as the change is happening,
So not so much efficting. Obviously, we've got our own
challenges in remoteness things we're advocating for, but this change
is not impacting us so much outside Dullin and our way.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
We're right now. Was there a session held overnight as
well or a further discussion held overnight?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, so there's been a number. We've been holding sessions
as soon as we've sort of got wind of this.
We want to make sure parents are informed and that
they can you know, have that confidence and that reassurance
about what's happening. So we've been holding sessions for parents ourselves,
and there was a session on Monday night with the
department which we facilitated parents to come along to where
(04:46):
they could get a bit of a briefing and a
bit of information. But I think in general, you know,
i'd encourage parents if they're concerned, if they're worried, you know,
they can obviously go to their school, they can come
to Cogso we will always help them. Their school counsel
is probably the best board of call because they should
be being briefed and if they don't feel they are,
they should come to us. But you know, there's any
(05:06):
change for our kids is always you know, as a parent,
you want what's best of them.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You worry.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
You want to know what you're walking into. So there
was a session, But if parents are feeling like they
need more, they can always reach out and I'd encourage
them to be asking those questions of their school and
if they feel like they're not getting it, to come
to us.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, I agree, And look, it does seem as though
the Department of Education is pretty forthcoming with information and
really wanting to make sure that that information is provided
to parents, because, as you've touched on, I think as
this change happens, you just want to make sure that
kids know what's going on, that parents understand it, and
that it's as seamless as possible.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Exactly. We've got enough things to worry about with our kids.
We don't need this as well. So yeah, you know
we've been so far, we've been included, and we've been
asking lots of questions of the department tool and passing
them on through our newsletter that parents can sign up
for us then ordery on it and yeah, asking their
school what is and their school counsel what does it
look like in our location? What's the plan? What can
(06:05):
we expect next year? What can we expect the year after?
What does it mean for my kids. Yeah, yeah, we'd
really encourage that.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Well, Ruth, lovely to speak to you this morning. Just
how cool is it in Tenant Creig today.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think we're about sixteen. At the moment it looked
like it was going to rain, but which my kids
were very excited about, because you know, school's much more
fun in the rain. But it's signed up and we're
looking like a lovely Barkley day today.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Ah, good stuff. Well, Ruth lovely to speak to you
this morning. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you so much, Chattie, you and your listeners have
a lovely day you too.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Thank you.
Now we know that yesterday obviously we spoke about the
rolloush of well the phasing out of middle school and
the Education Department had joined us on the show and
told us more about how it was all going to happen.
We know that nt COGSO have indeed welcomed the government's
move to phase out those well the middle years schooling,
delivering on that key recommendation from the Secondary Education Reviews.
(00:23):
Long support it well, it has been this has been
long supported by Northern Territory families and joining us on
the line right now well from the nt Council of
Government School Organizations, the President Ruth Myram's good morning to
your Ruth.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Kati, good morning to your listeners. Lovely to
be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah, lovely to have you on the show, Ruth. I
know that nt COGSO was a key stakeholder in the
consultation process. What are some of the inclusions that you
guys really wanted to see and continue to want to
see as this role out occurs.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, we're really the key thing we're supporting here is
reducing transitions so that you know that change and that
disruption for our kids across their schooling is reduced and
at the same time, we want to see that they
have a really quality education with the pathway that they
choose into their secondary education. So we really, as you said,
(01:19):
we really welcome the change, but we're keeping our eyes
on what's happening and making sure that it's really gives
parents that choice and that children can thrive.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Now, you guys did have quite a bit of you know,
of consultation, and you were involved in that consultation process.
What do parents say to you when the question was
asked about the phasing out of middle school?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, in general, parents are supportive and it's it's obviously
going to look different in each location as well. So
you know, parents, I think in general want what's best
for their kids, and so what they want to see
is they were saying, you know, some of them saying, this,
really is it working. It's disruptive this middle school, you know,
experiments that we conducted, and now they're concerned that, you know,
(02:01):
what's it going to look like for my kids? What's
it going to look like in my location? You know,
what does it mean if my child's in year six
this year and they're going to year seven next year?
Can I be sure what I'm sending them to. So
we're really looking to the department and to the school
for that communication and to make sure you know that
parents have that choice, that they're informed and they can
be confident as they send their kids to school next year.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Now we know that middle schools, obviously in Darwin, Palmerston
Alice Springs, some of them are going to be phased
out from next year as you've touched on to become
those comprehensive high schools. There are others that it's going
to take a little bit longer. But there's also I
mean with those the ones that have been announced, some
of them are set to become specialized campuses. Is that
(02:43):
sort of a good move in the first instance, doing
it in this phased way?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Well, I think it's you know, in general, you want
what's right for each location. So where am I understanding
from the school councils in Darwen and in Central As
they did want a bit longer, So you know, we
welcome that and that refort that we're not going to
rush this. In terms of the specialized campuses, I think
it's great that our children have choice, but we would
really be looking that you know, they can have that
(03:10):
choice wherever they're located, and they're not having, you know,
to go to a different location or maybe leave their
friends to follow the pathway that they want to. So
we'd we're keeping our eyes on and are really interested
in how that choice is being offered to students wherever
they are.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Yeah, so in terms of the more regional and remote areas,
is that planned for what year? Is that planned for
twenty twenty seven or when's that going to happen?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
From your understanding, so form mindus saying So I'm actually
in remote, I'm down Intent and Creek, Katie. They're joining
you from down the track, so we don't yeah, Chilli
day down here, but we're enjoying a reprieve from the flyers.
Let me tell you this. So we don't have a
middle school here, so and I minders setting is that's
the case in a number of the regional locations. So
(03:56):
for us locally, it's not such a big deal. Our
kids finish their hips at the primary school that's where
my kids are, and then they go to the high
school and it's you know, as the change is happening,
So not so much efficting. Obviously, we've got our own
challenges in remoteness things we're advocating for, but this change
is not impacting us so much outside Dullin and our way.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
We're right now. Was there a session held overnight as
well or a further discussion held overnight?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, so there's been a number. We've been holding sessions
as soon as we've sort of got wind of this.
We want to make sure parents are informed and that
they can you know, have that confidence and that reassurance
about what's happening. So we've been holding sessions for parents ourselves,
and there was a session on Monday night with the
department which we facilitated parents to come along to where
(04:46):
they could get a bit of a briefing and a
bit of information. But I think in general, you know,
i'd encourage parents if they're concerned, if they're worried, you know,
they can obviously go to their school, they can come
to Cogso we will always help them. Their school counsel
is probably the best board of call because they should
be being briefed and if they don't feel they are,
they should come to us. But you know, there's any
(05:06):
change for our kids is always you know, as a parent,
you want what's best of them.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You worry.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
You want to know what you're walking into. So there
was a session, But if parents are feeling like they
need more, they can always reach out and I'd encourage
them to be asking those questions of their school and
if they feel like they're not getting it, to come
to us.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, I agree, And look, it does seem as though
the Department of Education is pretty forthcoming with information and
really wanting to make sure that that information is provided
to parents, because, as you've touched on, I think as
this change happens, you just want to make sure that
kids know what's going on, that parents understand it, and
that it's as seamless as possible.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Exactly. We've got enough things to worry about with our kids.
We don't need this as well. So yeah, you know
we've been so far, we've been included, and we've been
asking lots of questions of the department tool and passing
them on through our newsletter that parents can sign up
for us then ordery on it and yeah, asking their
school what is and their school counsel what does it
look like in our location? What's the plan? What can
(06:05):
we expect next year? What can we expect the year after?
What does it mean for my kids. Yeah, yeah, we'd
really encourage that.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Well, Ruth, lovely to speak to you this morning. Just
how cool is it in Tenant Creig today.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think we're about sixteen. At the moment it looked
like it was going to rain, but which my kids
were very excited about, because you know, school's much more
fun in the rain. But it's signed up and we're
looking like a lovely Barkley day today.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Ah, good stuff. Well, Ruth lovely to speak to you
this morning. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you so much, Chattie, you and your listeners have
a lovely day you too.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Thank you.
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