RELATED STORY: Aiming to end the blackout
MOBILE phone coverage at Clare Public School should be prioritised as a necessity, according to one national rural education equality group.
Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) has joined a chorus of voices calling for coverage to be improved in the remote Clare and Hatfield region in southwest NSW.
The region is one of numerous locations from across Australia currently in the running to receive funding under a Federal Government scheme to reduce mobile blackspot areas.
The $100 million Mobile Blackspot Program will provide funding to install telecommunications equipment in areas lacking mobile phone service.
The remote location and low population numbers in the area have meant the community’s 11 year fight for coverage have not been answered, however they are hopeful the latest attempt has gained some traction with the Commonwealth.
A key focus of their most recent bid centres around Clare Public School — one of the most remote public schools in NSW.
For the eight students currently on the books, a lack of phone coverage means that learning opportunities outside of the classroom, where satellite internet access is available, are severely limited.
According to the ICPA, it is “restraining the learning opportunities for the students, making educational opportunities and inquiry outside the classroom difficult”.
ICPA NSW state councillor Fleur Turner said improving access for students would be a benefit to the whole community.
“Given the vital role that schools play in rural and remote areas, it is essential that those areas that have schools with inadequate or non-existent mobile coverage, are prioritised,” she said.
“The provision of effective communications to schools in regional, rural and remote areas are crucial to enable students to access an equitable education.”
She added that lack of mobile service was more than just an inconvenience, but also an essential safety issue.
“If good teachers are to be attracted and retained in rural schools,” she said.
“If safety and security of staff and students is a priority.
“If schools are to remain a focus of small communities so that these communities remain vital and productive elements of the state — then these areas should be prioritised for the mobile coverage program.”
Helping along the community’s efforts is the location of the tower where it is proposed the telecommunications equipment be installed.
Min Min tower is approximately 10km from Clare Public School.
It is an existing tower and the community hope, as this will lower the cost of installation, this will go in their favour.
Kara Scott, Clare Public School P&C president, said the group was in support of the need to install mobile connectivity as a priority.
“Technology is moving at such a fast pace, we know that the ever increasing usage of devices that tap into mobile connectivity will be of educational value to our children,” Ms Scott said.
“The safety of our families and that of our relief teachers are also of utmost importance to us, with some of them travelling up to 200km per school day, mobile coverage over our journeys would definitely be an advantage for all of us.”
In a statement, Clare Public School principal Megan Baker told The Guardian “Clare Public School supports the community’s efforts to obtain mobile phone service at the school”.
For more on this story pick up a copy of Monday’s Guardian (June 23).
