Pupil pitch-off: Students across the Territory present ideas for a better education

What do students think is important for their education? Pupils from 27 Territory schools pitched their ideas to the NT Learning Commission. Here’s what they asked for.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles meets future stars at the NT Learning commission. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Students from 27 schools across the Territory gathered at the Darwin Convention Centre on Wednesday to better their educational experiences.

The students pitched their solutions for attendance, engagement, wellbeing and improvement to the Northern Territory Learning Commission.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said the Commission was all about students having a voice.

“As a Minister, I get to go back to your schools, but I also have formal meetings in my office at Parliament House,” she told the students attending the event.

Ms Lawler said the day’s pitches were an important opportunity to hear the issues that mattered most to students.

Various schools pitch ideas for the NT Learning commission. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“The student commissioners are using real data and conducting sophisticated analyses to identify and find solutions to their school’s own challenges,” Ms Lawler said.

Students from Bees Creek Primary School examined why students and teachers had different views on learning and engagement after their survey showed a decline in the response to the statement, ‘my teacher understands how I learn’.

Wagaman and Manunda Terrace Primary Schools each looked at how teacher feedback influenced the way students learned.

Ms Lawler said the students at Woodroffe Primary School identified issues around “not having enough to do” during breaks which caused conflict.

“They addressed the issue through working with the principal and assistant principal to look at more playground equipment and changing the fate of the recess and lunchtime play times as well,” she said.

“We actually can see some concrete evidence coming out of the students having a say in the school.

“It’s something we highly value, making sure that we hear the voices of young people.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles was asked for her signature by fan-girl students at the NT Learning commission. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The Commission began in Katherine six years ago with just seven schools on board.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the program directly influenced school improvement.

“The NT Learning Commission is a model of student and educator collaboration that gives students a real voice and a real role in determining how education is delivered in their schools,” she said.

“The way students learn is evolving and through programs such as this, we can see positive outcomes for our children.”

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Originally published as Pupil pitch-off: Students across the Territory present ideas for a better education