‘Our NT system particularly for remote schools is very underfunded’: Union

A NATIONAL analysis of data has revealed how the Territory’s remote and urban schools compare for student to teacher ratios. How does your school rate?

Data has revealed the NT's best and worst resourced classrooms.

RURAL and remote school have recorded both the lowest and highest student to teacher ratios in the Northern Territory.

STUDENT to teacher ratios: The full NT list

RURAL and remote school have recorded both the lowest and highest student to teacher ratios in the Northern Territory.

An NT News analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has revealed the schools where teachers have the most and least students to teach in the Territory.

BEST and worst student to teacher ratios in Darwin

BEST and worst student to teacher ratios in Alice

BEST and worst student to teacher ratios in Palmerston

BEST and worst student to teacher ratios out bush

Amanbidji School in Mataranka had a ratio of 28.3 students per teacher, whereas the highest ratio in an urban area was 18 students per teacher at Bakewell Primary School.

Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan said the high rural / remote ratio indicated a lack of funding and quality education opportunities in those areas.

“Our NT system particularly for remote schools is very underfunded,” he said.

“There’s such a strong correlation of being a remote school and that school having high levels of socio-economic disadvantage, a high probability of students with disabilities and additional needs.

SEE THE FULL LIST BELOW

“What it (data) does highlight is that in a school like Amanbidji, that school will not necessarily be funded as though it has 28 students. Our government adjusts funding based on student attendance and it they may well be funded as though they have less students.

“The effect of this is it works against the interest of our smaller and often remote schools.”

AMAZING NT News deal: Just $3.50 a week* for full digital access

According to ACARA the national student-teacher ratio was 13.5 students for every teacher.

Across the country independent private schools had the lowest student to teacher ratios with 11.7 students to every teacher.

Government schools had an average of 13.8 students for every teacher while Catholic schools had an average of 14 students for every teacher.

NT News tablet art

CLICK HERE for full details on our tablet offer above

Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.