Education Department working to ensure Year 12s can complete studies this year

THE NT Government is working on arrangements for Year 12 students to complete their education despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic

Wenquing Zhuang and Pumudi Abeywardarna as Darwin High School seniors finish the first of their 2019 exams. The Department of Education is working to ensure 2020s Year 12s can finish their studies this year despite the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Glenn Campbell

THE NT Government is working on arrangements for Year 12 students to complete their education despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said it was liaising with the South Australian Certification Board (SACE) on how to deliver the NT Certificate of Education and Training.

“The Department of Education has been working closely with the South Australian Certification Board about curriculum and assessment arrangements for our senior secondary students and communications with schools,” she said.

“The SACE Board is committed to valuing the learning that students are able to do and is encouraging schools to focus on the continuity of learning for their students and the collection of evidence for learning.”

She added at this stage, government schools would remain open at the advice of the Federal Government and the NT Health authorities.

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Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan said it was crucial for Year 12 students to complete their education.

“Year 12 is obviously the one year, more so than others, we’d like to be able to see those students complete their studies,” he said.

“It’s my understanding they’re (schools) probably working more than anyone else in terms of getting their course delivery set up so it could be online and remote and so there’s a lot of work going on.

“With some subjects it becomes a bit difficult, there are some subjects that are more practical in nature, that’s where it gets tricky.

“As someone with a stepdaughter in Year 12 we want her to complete her studies because then she can get on with the next phase of her life … If there’s one year we could get completed, then that would be the one we really want to do.”

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Mr Jarvis said it would be appropriate for the Department of Education to discuss leniencies for students with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and the SACE.