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Bath Backs Better Support For Country Students

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath will back a motion calling for greater support for regional and rural students at the Victorian Nationals’ state conference to be held in Echuca this weekend.

By The Nationals - 15th May 2015 - Back to News

Ms Bath said the conference would have a particular focus on education, and attendees would debate a motion calling on the Federal Coalition Government to expand support for regional and rural students participating in higher education. "Young people living in regional Victoria face a number of barriers which make it difficult to access further education, many of which are simply not an issue for their city counterparts," Ms Bath said. "Moving away to study presents significant accommodation and travel costs for both students and their families and is too often the factor stopping young people from accessing tertiary education.

"As a former high school teacher, I have worked with many students who have found it difficult to access higher education. I strongly believe we need to do more to help rural students overcome these challenges. "All Victorians deserve the opportunity to access further education no matter where they were born and I will be supporting this motion." Ms Bath said in 2009, the Victorian Government’s Education and Training Committee conducted an Inquiry into Geographical Differences in the Rate in which Victorian Students Participate in Higher Education. "The inquiry found that students coming from geographical areas with a high level of socioeconomic disadvantage are most affected by the costs associated with tertiary education," Ms Bath said. "Both initial access to education and the ability to continue with, and complete a course are affected. "This is concerning given the 20 local government areas in Victoria with the lowest year 12 completion rates are in regional Victoria and most also rank in the 20 areas with the lowest income. "Education is the single biggest protective factor against poverty and the next step is to develop strategies on how to better invest in education across regional Victoria."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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