Private primary schools could take participation hit in proposed Sapsasa sport restructure

South Australia’s sporting future is at stake, under new rules private school principals say will limit their students’ participation in Sapsasa competitions.

Many private primary school students will miss out on competing in the much anticipated Sapsasa sporting carnivals and competitions under new rules, principals say.

The Department of Education’s School Sport SA/Sapsasa District is planning a major restructure next year and will reduce the number of districts from around 40 to 15.

Private primary schools will need to organise their own regional representative teams under the new rules.

The current system selects students from each Catholic, private and public schooling systems to make up representative teams which take part in Sapsasa state carnivals (team sports) and state days (track and field, swimming, cross country).

Liz Keogh, South Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association president, said the changes to the competition would severely disadvantage private students.

Information from School Sport SA indicates the number of these teams will be capped at two per state carnival/state day, according to Ms Keogh.

School Sport SA Sapsasa Netball Carnival match between Metro Year 6 Adelaide North East v Playford on June 2, 2021, which may be in jeopardy under new rules.

There are 89 schools with a primary component in the Catholic system, which Ms Keogh said will be impacted.

“This would lead to a profound reduction in the number of students from the Catholic sector who would have the opportunity to access district and state representative teams,” she said.

“A letter addressing concerns has been sent to Minister Education John Gardner.

“These changes are unexpected, and we would support a review of the decisions made in order to ensure equity for all students regardless of families’ choice of schooling sector for their children.”

The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia, which lobbies for the other, non-Catholic private schools, was contacted by The Messenger but declined to comment.

The restructure is an attempt to increase opportunities for Department for Education school students to participate in Sapsasa events.

Opposition education spokesperson Blair Boyer said the changes would decrease the quality of sport in the long term. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

The latest statistics show a Year 4-7 student in a regional state school has a 33 per cent less chance of representing their district than an independent (inclusive of private and Catholic schools) student.

A Year 4-7 student in a metropolitan state school has a 50 per cent lower chance.

However the Education Department said the new rules would not come at the expense of private primary school participation.

“The department is considering proposals aimed at increasing the number of students able to participate in sport and physical activity through School Sport SA, including the Sapsasa representative pathways,” it said in a statement.

“We are engaging with non-government schools to ensure the final approach does not reduce participation opportunities for any student group.

Opposition education spokesperson Blair Boyer said if the changes were to go ahead not only would private primary students be at a disadvantage, but the level of sport in South Australia would dip in the long term.

“We want a cross-section of these students and they’d be cutting it to pieces,” he said.

“We all understand they’re trying to increase opportunity for public school students but this is an easy way out.

“It would also directly impact the quality of sportspeople we produce as it will discourage a big chunk of students from district sports.

“The students who do participate in events won’t experience the same level of competition.”