Submission to the Higher Education Review Committee
Baulkham Hills High School
Parents and Citizens' Association
Sue Lawton
President
Baulkham Hills High School was for many years a comprehensive high school then became an academically selective high school eight years ago and remains so now. It has students from a wide area in north western and western Sydney.
Over the years it has had some benefit from interaction with The University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University. When this has happened it has been of great significance helping students to experience new opportunities that they otherwise would have been denied. Sometimes these activities were simply due to the use of university facilities and at other times involved the participation of university expertise.
Both of the universities have established links with our school and we commend them for their support which although small now we hope will develop further in the near future.
Our school was under resourced as a comprehensive high school and is in an even more desperate need now for increased resources. As universities have the space and population to justify and utilise many resources that schools are denied perhaps consideration could be given to greater interaction between the secondary and tertiary sectors. For instance from mid November through to the end of February many university facilities lie dormant. There are endless possibilities for greater use of these if support was provided to enable coordination and access. This may vary from the use of sportsgrounds, lecture theatres and possibly more technological equipment in computer and science laboratories.
Another possibility is for some mobility of resources to be included in the planning and development of new areas or facilities. Alternately, assistance with provision of buses for schools would enable access by schools as appropriate.
The need for the University of Western Sydney to develop its resources and provide more places for students is imperative. There are so many obstacles for prospective students who are prevented now from tertiary studies because of travel and residential problems if they have to leave the area. If these students could study in their area of Sydney then the area will benefit with their ultimate productivity and the roles and models they provide. As there are many schools in Western Sydney needing teachers committed to remaining in the area the teaching profession alone could be targeted as a way of improving the educational standards in Western Sydney. Local teacher residents will understand many of the problems in the area and be in a position to encourage and lead children to higher education. As it is now many teachers teach in the Western Sydney area for a limited time then seek to move closer to home as soon as possible.
The UWS has created great partnerships with schools in its region providing support to teachers and developing innovative programmes to foster interest and learning. As an active member of the Metropolitan West Council of State School Organisations for many years we can testify to the great contribution it has made. For example in science it has had a wonderful "show" that it presents in primary schools very simply and inexpensively. Not only does this fascinate the children but it motivates and supports the staff with guidance. UWS staff worked collaboratively with NSW Department of School Education to develop the Primestep initiative in Western Sydney. This was a kit and program to develop science in primary schools. It was adopted state wide.
Macquarie has the benefit of a single campus so development of facilities such as for sport and recreation and the library are more accessible to all students and are ideal facilities for fostering school links especially in university ‘quiet times’.Some of our senior students make use of the library for research and other ways of establishing support are currently being investigated in a collaborative effort between the school and the university through its schools’ links program. For several years our annual presentation of awards was held in the Macquarie Theatre which was wonderful as our school has no hall. However this year we were forced to hire another venue at great expense as a larger hall was needed. If the universities were given a large hall and improved facilities there would be great potential for community use in addition to the university usage.
Any interaction between our schools and universities serves to foster the educational community and influence students with their realisation that universities are places they can attend. Universities serve the community in many ways.
It is of great concern to us that the differential HECS will discriminate against many talented students who ,for economic reasons, will select the less costly courses, denying the community the benefit of adequate science and similarly needed professionals. This situation will be especially significant for the supply of teachers for the sciences. We need teachers with wide fields of study so request that this be encouraged rather than penalised. How beneficial it is for teachers and others to enhance their knowledge with further studies that can enhance their contributionin the workplace and community. For these reasons we believe the HECS differential for courses needs to be removed.
We would like to support the maintenance and development of our local universities as an integral part of our community. They are vital to the area they serve providing leadership and enrichment that needs expanding.