The Report of the Field Study is a descriptive record of:-
(i) the development of the A.C.T. Schools Authority
according to a particular philosophy and operational
structure of devolution of responsibility to schools
and community participation in decision making at
school and system level.
(ii) the impact which changes in government policy in the
areas of
(a) growth of the Australian Public Service and Canberra
(b) funding of the A.C.T. government schools
have on the A.C.T. Schools Authority operations.
(iii) the mechanism by which policy is being developed for
the maintenance of small high schools as individual
organizations in a situation of contracting enrolments.
The functions of the A.C.T. Schools Authority are, amongst
others, to establish and conduct,pre schools, primary schools,
high schools and secondary colleges.
In 1980 there were 165 schools and of these only three were
outside the city of Canberra.
During the 1960's Canberra underwent extensive expansion of
the city boundaries because of rapid increases in population
as a result of government policy in establishing the city as
the seat of government. Government departments were moved
from rented premises in other cities to new purpose built
buildings in Canberra. Economic conditions and government
funding supported all aspects of the expansion as it continued
into the '70's.
The government school building programme was one of many which
had to be integrated into the city growth plan. In 1960 there
were three secondary schools, in 1970 there were nine and in
1980 there were twenty three.
This Field Study is concerned with the A.C.T. Schools Authority's
approach to its responsibilities under the following changed
circumstances.
1. Change in growth rate of Canberra.
From 1976, as a result of a change in government policy and in
different economic conditions and policies there was a dramatic
and unpredicted decrease in the rate of population increase.
Movement of government departments to Canberra was severely
curtailed and the service industries and building industries
consequently also dramatically reduced their expansion. By
1978 there was evidence of a severe contraction in these
industries and the growth of Canberra in the 60's to mid 70's
had changed to a no-growth and then a decline.
2. Schools with small enrolments.
Added to the nil or very slow population increase in some
suburbs is the decline in the number of school age children
in the inner suburbs of the city resulting in schools
accommodating down to half of their previous numbers of
students and the completion of school buildings in the as yet
underpopulated outer suburbs. This latter situation developed
because the lead time required for the planning and building
of new schools is such that irreversible decisions had been
made in the context of the population growth period and the
resulting building programme was overtaken by the unexpected
policy reversal causing a no growth situation to develop.
The empty school buildings provoked the sparsely populated
new communities to press for their opening and so provide what
were seen to be essential community facilities.
3. Strict controls on costs.
Allied to its policy restricting the growth rate of Canberra
the government introduced strict controls on the cost of
government education services in the A.C.T. The real
difficulty was in the nature of the controls. Per-pupil costs
were not to rise in real terms after 1976/77. With "fixed"
costs such as cleaning, heating, maintenance, lighting and
janitor rising or at least remaining constant whilst school
enrolments decline, there was little hope of meeting the
government directive. The Authority therefore considered the
possibilities of deferring the opening of new schools and
phasing out some inner Canberra schools as the only means of
carrying out its responsibility.
The proposal evoked strong community reaction. It was claimed
that such an edict from the central authority was in contravention
of the philosophical and legal foundations of the
A.C.T. system. School Boards and communities were the places
where decisions could be made that would enable their schools
to remain as functioning entities, providing their students
with creative educational programmes and still adapt to the
economic constraints of the total system.
Faced with this resounding community disapproval the Schools
Authority established a Working Party on llth June 1979
"To consider the problems of declining and shifting school
populations and its effect on the A.C.T. school system. In
particular it will examine educational, financial and staffing
problems associated with conducting small secondary schools
and report to the Authority no later than June 1980".
The Working Party then mounted a programme of enquiry throughout
the A.C.T. Teachers, parents, students, School Boards, P & C
committees and public meetings were asked to submit proposals,
express opinions and respond to models. The resulting report
Declining and Shifting Enrolments in A.C.T. Secondary schools
was presented and public response invited. Once again the
philosophy of the A.C.T. government school system was being put
into practice.
The study also investigates some of the issues in respect of
the individual small school facing declining enrolments and
consequently reductions in staffing and financial resources.
Some conclusions are posed for the individual school, the A.C.T.
Schools Authority and the various government instrumentalities
which service and to some extent control, the A.C.T. government
school system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219513 |
| Date | January 1980 |
| Creators | Wells, John L., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright John L. Wells |
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