Hundreds of students brought back to the NT at the height of COVID-19 now returning to boarding school

A MAMMOTH effort was undertaken to bring boarding students back to the Territory during the height of COVID-19, and to ensure they seamlessly continued with their studies

ALMOST 1000 boarding school students were brought back to the Territory during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, in a mammoth effort to keep them safe through the pandemic.

The Education Department’s 2019-20 Annual Report revealed it helped the 924 students return to their local communities and supported their continued learning.

This included “working with the commonwealth government national data sets to ensure all students undertaking schooling outside of the Northern Territory could be supported to return home,” the report said.

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An Education Department spokeswoman said the largest number of students were from remote communities Minyerri, Yuendumu, Borroloola, Elliott, Milikapiti, Pirlangimpi and Warruwi.

“Most students have now returned to their boarding schools throughout Australia,” she said.

“And with the latest updates from the Chief Health Officer, a small number of students still undertaking remote learning are now looking to return.”

Eleven boarders from Unity College in South Australia returned to their home community of Areyonga in Central Australia when the nation’s boarding schools were forced to close.

The students continued their education at Areyonga School, where principal Jonathon Fernando said they had a profound impact on the school’s junior students.

“The students did enjoy the change of environment and the opportunity to interact with the school’s junior students as positive role models,” he said.

“There was several examples of senior students not only role modelling great attendance and behaviour, but actually leading the learning of junior students in the school.

“(The) students enjoyed the chance to highlight their skills and experience they acquired while away at boarding school in the community.”

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The department spokeswoman said it funded an interim teacher based at Areyonga School to assist the boarding students, and also acted as the interface between Unity College and the Areyonga Community.

Mr Fernando said while the students were thrilled to spend time in their home community, they were eager to get back to boarding school.

“The senior students enjoyed their time in Areyonga but were excited to return to Unity College to reconnect with their teachers and classmates in person,” he said.

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