The Importance Of Rural Education

1082 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Educational equality

Australia prides itself on being the land of the ‘fair go’, a land of equal opportunity, where everyone has a reasonable chance in life. By comparison with other countries, Australia is relatively fair in many of its social aspects. Yet, this reputation has been tarnished as the divide between rich and poor is widened. The growing gap results educational inequality in the marginalised and disadvantaged groups such as Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students, students in the regional, rural and remote area, and low socioeconomic status students as one of its side effects.

As a direct victim of educational inequality, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students are facing many educational disadvantages (Dean, 2010). There is sufficient …show more content…

Historically, rural education was critical of its quality. Even today, the quality of rural education is still a concern of Australia’s society. The key quality issues concern subject choice, education delivery both teacher and technology issues and resource provision (Perry & Lubienski, 2014). With a smaller student and teacher population, the range of subjects that can be economically offered is restricted. The response of a survey shows that over 25% of the respondents (students) are not getting choices once they come to choose subjects in secondary schools. Likewise, schools in rural and remote areas have higher rates of teacher shortages and teacher turnovers than urban areas (Stokes, Stafford & Holdsworth, 2013). These issues prevent the school from delivering the full curriculum, making it difficult for schools to maintain continuity in the teaching force (Lamb, Glover & Walstab, 2014). Correspondingly, the provision of learning through new technologies is identified as one way of assistance to overcome educational difficulties associated with distance. However, substantial difficulties were also identified. For instance, many parents found the cost of providing internet access for their children at home extremely expensive. In addition, the download speed is very slow due to the types of telephone systems available in these areas (Stokes, Stafford & Holdsworth, 2013). Under those circumstances, country students are less likely to finish school, tend to have relatively lower education performance than students in metropolitan

Show More
Related

  • Stereotypes In Yolngu Boy And Young Indigenous People

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    Indigenous youth continue to be marginalised and oppressed. The marginalisation of the Aboriginal community is a result of colonisation. The Indigenous community lost their land and culture. This is reflected on today’s Indigenous youth as they are still feeling the effects.

    Read More

  • The Impacts of the Sixties Scoop on First Nations People

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 1950s and 1960s, the government began abolishing the compulsory residential school education among Aboriginal people. The government believed that Aboriginal children could receive a better education if they were integrated into the public school system (Hanson). However, residential schools were later deemed inappropriate because not only were the children taken away from their culture, their families and their people, but the majority of students were abus...

    Read More

  • Class and Poverty in Australia

    1827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Class is a key idea related to inequality, prejudice and discrimination in Australian society. It has been considered out of fashion, because some Australian people think that there is no class difference between people in Australia, everyone enjoys equality in society. In fact, the recent de-regulation of the workplace, and the widening gap in access to hospitals, schools and employment opportunities between the rich and poor, have made class more visible in Australian than ever before. Class is "a category of people who have generally similar educational histories, job opportunities, and social standing and who are conscious of their membership in a social group that is ranked in relation to others and is replicated over generations" (Kent, 1998:87). This essay argues that class cause continues to inequality in Australian society. Firstly, class structures labor market inequality. Secondly, class shapes the quality of a person's life. Thirdly, class inequality produces continuing class differences into the next generation. Finally, class has becoming a debate in Australian society, because class inequality encourages the `right' people to work more efficiently in the workforce and helps people to identify themselves in society, but continuing relevance of the concept of class is a matter in contemporary Australia.

    Read More

  • We Must Reduce the Drop-Out Rates for Aboriginal People

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... known struggle for aboriginals to stay in school and finish more than it is a struggle for non-aboriginals because of the issues that evolve around aboriginals, the only thing we can do to help these rates decrease are to continue working and help educators find and implement new ways to help students succeed.

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Education

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    This essay will discuss the Aboriginal Education policies in Victoria and Federally and how these policies impacted upon the children of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This essay will further analyse the impact these past policies had on the Aboriginal and Torres strait Islanders’ families and children’s education and how current policies were put in place to assist indigenous students’ access to education. Further to this an analysis of how teachers can implement these changes in the curriculum and classroom.

    Read More

  • Essay On Aboriginal Health

    2026 Words  | 5 Pages

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have some of the worst health outcomes in comparison to any other indigenous community in the world (AIHW, 2011). According to United Nations official Anand Grover, Aboriginal health conditions are even worse than some Third World countries (Arup & Sharp, 2009), which is astonishing, considering Australia is one of the worlds wealthiest countries. Thoroughly identifying the causes and analysing every aspect behind poor health of indigenous Australians, and Australian health in general, is near impossible due to the complexity and abundant layers of this issue. Even within the category of social determinants, it is hard to distinguish just one factor, due to so many which interrelate and correspond with each other. The aim of this essay is to firstly identify and analyse components of the social determinants of health that impact the wellbeing of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, and demonstrate how they overlap with each other. By analysing the inequalities in health of Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australians, positive health interventions will then be addressed. Racism and the consequences it has on Indigenous health and wellbeing will be discussed, followed by an analysis of how and why social class and status is considered a determining factor when studying the health of the Aboriginal population. The issue relating ...

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Education

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Aboriginal Education and Training Policy`s (AETP) (NSW DET 2008) main goal is that “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will match or better the outcomes of the broader student population” (1.1.2) and includes an explicit focus on developing cultural competencies (NSW DET 2008, p.6). Establishing ‘learning partnerships’ and relationships with Aboriginal communities, including Aboriginal content within the curriculum (NSW BOS 2008, p. 2), and engagement are advocated as necessary elements to achieve this edict. Racism has been proven to be an extremely detreimental factor on all fronts, especially within the education context. To address this intolerance the Anti-Racism Policy (ARP, 2005) is committed to eradicating all forms

    Read More

  • Aboriginal

    1291 Words  | 3 Pages

    Residential schools undoubtedly created detrimental inter-generational consequences. The dark legacy of residential schools has had enduring impact, reaching into each new generation, and has led to countless problems within Aboriginal families including: chemical dependence, a cycle of abuse in families, dysfunctional families, crime and incarceration, depression, grief, suicide, and cultural identity issues (McFarlan, 2000, p. 13). Therefore, the inter-generational consequence...

    Read More

  • Social Justice In Australia Case Study

    1550 Words  | 4 Pages

    School on the surface is considered to most Australians as an accessible place for students to learn and grow. When examined below surface level socio-cultural factors have an effect on getting an education, success in education and inclusion at school. These factors include, but are not limited to socioeconomic status, cultural capital, cultural preferences, geographical location, ethnic background, gender and sexual orientation. Social justice has not been achieved for education in Australia. Examining the above factors and how they have shaped school practices, teaching styles, curriculum and the outcomes of disadvantaged students will illustrate the status of social justice in Australia.

    Read More

  • Inequality In Education Essay

    3194 Words  | 7 Pages

    ...digenous students. The historical conditions, combined with the views and attitudes enforced on the Aboriginal race today and generations of low socio-economic status from a lifetime of disadvantage has caused educational disengagement. This essentially culminates in a system where the Aboriginal youth will forever be disadvantaged which has implication for their attainment of higher education, employment and quality of life. Programs to improve the schooling success have demonstrated only small, if any improvements. Greater government focus tailored to the specific cultural needs of the Indigenous students is required as well as better education and training for teachers to manage the diversity in the classroom. Perhaps increasing the skill set in Aboriginal cultural values would place greater importance on their education, leading to increase education outcome,

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Education Essay

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    The education of Aboriginal people is a challenge that has been a concern for many years and is still an issue. However, it remains the best way young people can climb out of poverty. With the colonialization and the oppression of Aboriginals, there have been many lasting side effects that continue to be affecting the Aboriginal youth today. “While retention and graduation rates have improved among urban Aboriginal population, an educational gap still remains between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth in urban settings” (Donovan, 127). Many suffer from a diminished self-worth, as they do not feel valued and feel inferior to their classmates. In this essay I am going to outline the reasons Aboriginals are struggling, discuss what is being done

    Read More

  • The Importance of Inclusive Education in Australia

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Queensland Government. (2005). Inclusive Education Statement (Reference Information paper ). Queensland Government Department of Education.

    Read More

  • Equity And Equitable Quality Education

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    The term “equity” embodies a multitude of concepts, encompassing “justice”, “fairness”, “equality of opportunity” and “equivalent treatment” (Field et al., 2007, p.29). The questions of what equity is and how it is distinct from equality have been discussed conceptually for a long time (Cook & Hegtvedt, 1983), however, no consensus has been reached (Unterhalter, 2009). “Equity” and “equality” are often used interchangeably and analysed with regard to the dimensions of resources, opportunities, inputs, processes and outcomes (Klees, & Qargha, 2014). To uncover the major difference between equality and equity, equality is concerned with uniform distribution where everyone gets the same level of access to education, whereas equity prioritises fair and just treatment even if it is to be achieved at the cost of unequal distribution (ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, 2005).

    Read More

  • Rural Education

    3620 Words  | 8 Pages

    Where a child grows up and which high school they attend greatly affects further education and employment. Higher education, including college and vocational schooling, factors into employment opportunity. Research has shown that schools in rural areas have far less resources for students interested in attending college, providing less opportunity for students pursuing higher education. Wilsonville High School, located the city of Wilsonville just south of Portland, Oregon, represents a typical urban high school in an upper-middleclass city. In contrast, Cottage Grove High School, located in the small rural town of Cottage Grove, southwest of Eugene, Oregon supports a much lower income community. Both schools differ greatly in regard to variables such as average income, test scores, availability of advanced and technical classes, architectural and technological resources, minority education, local junior college participation, and funding. The cities of Wilsonville and Cottage Grove also differ greatly in the lifestyles most citizens enjoy: Wilsonville supports a highly technological community, home to corporate offices of Xerox, Nike, Mentor Graphics, and Hollywood Entertainment, while Cottage Grove’s largest employers include Weyerhaeuser Company (the Northwest’s largest lumber supplier) and other lumber corporations, as well as industrial manufacturers such as Wright Machine Corporation. The two high schools present a tradeoff between providing educational opportunities for students in lower income, rural communities and the actual demand for higher education in an industrial and agricultural community.

    Read More

  • Urban Vs. Rural Education

    1395 Words  | 3 Pages

    As I started out researching for the paper, I realized that most importantly, data would need to be collected comparing the educational opportunities and achievement of the rural youth and those of urban youth. For instance, high school grades and SAT scores could be compared, as well as college applications and attendance. Beyond this, the actual school systems of rural and urban areas would be compared - the differences in funding, ideology, resources, etc., would grant insight into the students’ experiences and goals there.

    Read More

More about The Importance Of Rural Education

Open Document