Territory’s report card and NT’s biggest education stories of 2023
From budget cuts to pay rises, phone bans and language milestones, 2023 has been a huge year for education in the NT. Read the snapshots.
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From budget cuts to pay rises, phone bans and language milestones, 2023 has been a huge year for education in the NT.
Read the snapshots of the year’s biggest stories.
YEAR OF THE PHONE BAN
Education Minister Eva Lawler’s policy against mobile phones in schools came into effect at the start of the 2023 school year.
As such, students were made to keep their phones switched off and in their lockers or at the office during the school day – except during emergencies.
The policy came into play following a spate of cyber-bullying, filmed school fights, and disturbances during classes.
TAMINMIN’S BATHROOM BUST
Taminmin College’s school board in February limited students’ bathroom time in an effort to curb vaping and vandalism, boost hygiene, and promote student safety.
But the decision was met with contention and a petition to overturn the decision spread through the school.
Student Ivy Fuss – who launched the petition – previously said she was forced to dehydrate herself in order to comply with the policy and Taminmin parents said the rule was a violation of their kids’ “basic human rights”.
An Education Department spokeswoman then said the policy would be reviewed and the findings evaluated.
PAY RISE FOR UNIVERSITY STAFF
Charles Darwin University’s months-long pay dispute came to an end in April when it was revealed its 1700 staff would finally cash in on an additional pay rise.
The news came after the NT branch of the National Tertiary Education Union said the proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement was “insidious”.
Though the EBA received a majority ‘yes’ vote from staff in November 2022, Fair Work Australia initially rejected the pay deal in January 2023.
When the pay rise was finally secured, the university said it was “fantastic” for staff.
STUDENT DEATH SPOTLIGHTS HOUSING CRISIS
The living conditions of the Territory’s international students was called into question after CDU student Md ‘Sifat’ Isfaqur Rahman was allegedly murdered in May.
Darwin’s Bangladeshi community was “shaken” by the gruesome incident, and off-campus tertiary students were left reeling and said they felt unsafe in their homes.
When it was revealed Sifat’s home – with broken locks and windows – was rented for $100 per week per person and housed 12-13 students at a time, CDU launched into action to deliver safe accommodation options to its students, such as StudyStays.
Proposed rental reforms in federal parliament also renewed students’ housing hopes.
TEACHER GENDER DIVIDE EXPOSED
Three disheartening themes emerged when fresh data revealed NT schools had hired almost four times as many female teachers as they did men over a 16-year period.
Notably, the number of male primary school teachers in particular had been gradually declining since 2006.
CDU senior education lecturer put the divide down to a lack of role models, perceived isolation and fears of misconduct accusations.
Education Minister Eva Lawler in June said the Territory was working towards bridging the gender divide in schools, while opposition education spokeswoman Jo Hersey said the most critical issue was retaining educators in the first place.
CDU TIGHTENS ITS BELT
The Territory’s only university was forced to tighten its belt when it identified a “very tight” budget for 2023 after its surplus plunged about 65 per cent since the previous financial year.
Charles Darwin University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman in August said the institution would be “really careful with money” in the coming year and was “looking to cut back where we can”.
Professor Bowman said the tight budget came because of a staff pay rise, insurance increases, and growth investments – including classes that weren’t always profitable.
“CDU is always focused on financial sustainability but it is important to consider the connection between world-class universities and the public good,” he said.
TAMINMIN’S MISSING STUDENTS FOUND
NT Police returned two Taminmin students home safe and sound after they went missing during a school camp in Jabiru.
The August trip away took a dark turn when the school’s principal said the rest of the class returned to Darwin while teachers remained at the site to look for the 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl.
Police and teachers searched the campground for about 16 hours before the duo was found unharmed.
STUDENTS’ POOR NAPLAN RESULTS
This year’s NAPLAN results revealed more than half of the NT’s students were underperforming academically.
The biggest disparity was in Year 3 spelling, with NT students scoring 88.5 points lower than the national average.
Year 9 spelling students came closest to meeting the national benchmark, scoring just 58.9 points lower than the Australian average.
2023 also marked the first year students were marked against NAPLAN’s newly-shifted goalposts.
CHILDCARE SCRUTINISED AFTER TODDLER DEATH
A two-year-old girl died after a serious medical incident at Humpty Doo Community and Childcare Centre in September.
The tragedy sparked multiple investigations and mass concern among NT parents.
“When you hand over your child to a childcare centre, you’re trusting them with their life,” one anonymous mother said.
“The last thing you imagine is getting a call that your baby isn’t coming home.”
BILINGUAL EDUCATION MILESTONE
Milingimbi Community Education Centre celebrated 50 years of bilingual education in September.
The school on Arnhem Land’s coastline has been teaching students in English and Djambarrpuyngu, with one teacher suggesting such an education was the “key to the outer world”.
Principal Adam Dicks then said the first 50 years of bilingual education set a “strong foundation” for the next 50.
Mr Dicks said the school was building s strong foundation for the next generation of Milingimbi leaders and educators.
‘SPECIAL SCHOOLS’ UNDER FIRE
Five NT schools catering to students with complex needs – conventionally known as “special schools” – could close thanks to recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission.
The changes would be a step towards inclusive education and maximise “students’ ability to gain rewarding employment, participate fully in the community and lead a fulfilling life”, the Commissioners said in October.
The recommendation also aimed to reduce the likelihood of disability discrimination and segregation.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ HORROR UNDERFUNDING
NT public schools are underfunded by almost $8000 per student, a recent report found.
The funding shortfall could worsen to more than $10,000 by 2028.
Australian Education Union NT branch president Michelle Ayres said the funding gap needed plugging and was possibly feeding into youth crime.
“If a child disengages from school for whatever reason, it actually takes more resourcing to re-engage them in school, and what we’ve seen is attendance drop away,” she said.
‘Urgent’ calls to review Native Title
Coalition senators are expected to renew their calls to grill Aboriginal Corporations and Land Councils in the Federal parliament this week.
Named: Every winner from Hockey NT’s night of nights
Three new Hall of Fame inductees and 28 life members were among the award recipients at Hockey NT’s night of nights. See the full list of winners here.