School of Distance and Isolated Education to be created

17/8/94

A new hi-tech school will be created for the estimated 2,500 students in remote and isolated areas of the State.

The new School of Distance and Isolated Education will focus on multi-media curriculum development and the electronic delivery of education programs.

Education Minister Norman Moore said today the five existing schools of the air would be combined with the Distance Education Centre in Leederville to create the new school.

The restructure was part of the extra $10 million allocated by the State Government, over the next four years, to expand and improve distance education.

Mr Moore said the integration would maintain the separate identities of the five schools of the air in Derby, Port Hedland, Meekatharra, Carnarvon and Kalgoorlie, plus the Distance Education Centre in Leederville.

"Each will maintain a separate identity as part of a multi-campus school and the restructure is to significantly upgrade distance education to utilise the latest communications technology," he said.

"Education in this State, particularly the education of isolated students, is poised on the threshold of a major technological transformation."

Western Australia was already considered to be at the forefront in the use of technology in education and the new school would work to enhance this reputation.

The position of Executive Principal for the new school would be advertised Australia-wide and the new structure was intended to be in place for the start of 1996.

Other clients of distance education, which catered for students from pre-primary to secondary school level, included sick or impaired students, those at secondary schools who choose extra-curricular subjects, students in detention centres and students travelling interstate or overseas.

Media contact:  Ross Storey  321 1444/222 9595