Student enrolments drop | Area News | September 2024
Shadow education minister Sarah Mitchell speaks about the drop in student enrolments at the Rankins Springs Public School during recent NSW Budget estimates. Source: NSW Parliament
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00:00I wanted to ask now about Rankin Springs, a school that I've asked about a couple of
00:03times before. Happy to direct it to you Mr Dizdar, but Ms Samhaze might also want to
00:08answer depending on the nature of the question. I've had some more community concerns about
00:13the student enrolments going down. I think they're now down to 19 pupils, whereas about
00:18a year ago they were at 32. Is there any feedback in terms of the declining enrolments, but
00:24also could you provide any information in terms of the principal's position and having
00:30someone permanently in that role where that's up to as well?
00:32Sure, we'll just see if Ms Samhaze has got any info on that.
00:34I'd have to take on notice the enrolment numbers precisely, Ms Mitchell, but what I can tell
00:41you about Rankin Springs is you would be aware that we have been going through a recruitment
00:45process for a new principal in a community that has been very active and very involved
00:53in their school, but also a little bit split in community about how we do that, and I know
00:57that you're aware of that. So we're working very closely. The DEL has a really good relationship
01:03with the community. They are speaking with her regularly about how the progress is going
01:06on the recruitment for a new principal, and I'm happy to come back to you with all the
01:09numbers on enrolment.
01:10Okay, is there a financial incentive with that principal position that's been added?
01:15I've been told that there is, I'm just wondering if you can...
01:17Yes, I believe there is, yes.
01:18Can you, and I'm happy for you to provide on notice how much?
01:20What that incentive is certainly, yes.
01:22Sorry, if you can also just, again, on notice is fine, because my understanding is the position
01:29has been advertised possibly a number of times, but it still hasn't been filled, so...
01:33Yes, unfortunately that's not uncommon for many of our country areas, as you would know,
01:37Ms Mitchell, yes.
01:38Okay, but if you can provide any further information on notice, that would be great, thank you.