NT bush kids attending boarding school interstate faced with a dilemma ahead of Term 2

A REMOTE Territory family is facing a tough decision over their child’s boarding school education interstate for this term amid the COVID-19 border restrictions

Territory bush kids at boarding school are facing uncertain times ahead with their education, as families assess few available options and exorbitant amounts of money to get their children back to class in Term 2. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

A REMOTE Territory family is facing a tough decision over their child’s boarding school education interstate for this term amid the COVID-19 border restrictions.

Debbie Braitling from Mount Doreen Station, 350km northwest of Alice Springs, was preparing for a distance education package for her son Ryan’s Year 11 studies at an Adelaide boarding school.

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But last week the school announced it would return to regular classes and correspondence resources would be limited.

“When the schools go back to face-to-face learning, they won’t be doing the online learning,” she said.

“Their wording is that it’s not their priority.

“The teachers will teach the kids in class and the kids that aren’t there will have to pick up what they can from online.

“It’s a big slap. You’ve got Year 11 and 12 students who have had the rug pulled out from underneath them.”

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Without interstate flights and with road border closures, families looking to make the trek south are facing a 14-day South Australian quarantine and a mandatory hotel quarantine on return to the NT.

“If I take him (Ryan) down, I’m looking at a month total of quarantine if I leave the Territory,” Ms Braitling said.

“We might have to quarantine for two weeks at Marla roadhouse if I drive.

“I’m trying to talk to someone in government about it.

“You’re talking about isolated kids coming off a cattle station – they’re probably the cleanest people getting across a state line.

“They can make exemptions if they choose to, like for essential workers and truck drivers. But no one is choosing to in this instance.”

The Education Department said the national guideline advice was for boarding schools to remain closed.

“The advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is that boarding facilities should remain closed,” a spokeswoman said.

“Year 12 students who attend boarding facilities in the Northern Territory should be supported to continue their learning by the boarding school they attend.”