The beginning of the 2009 school year is bound to be an exciting time for the 39,000 students heading off to Western NSW Region public schools this week.
But for seven students at Burraga Public School, Wednesday will be an extra special day.
The school is finally re-opening after being on suspension for the last two school years because of falling student numbers.
Burraga is a small isolated village and the school has been an important part of the social and cultural fabric of the community for generations.
There has been a strong campaign by the Burraga community supported by Oberon Council to have the school re-opened.
The campaign was also driven by Member for Bathurst Gerard Martin, who fought very strongly to have the school re-opened. Mr Martin led a delegation at the end of 2008, which included the Mayor of Oberon Council Keith Sullivan and representatives from the Burraga village, to meet with the Minister of Education, Verity Firth.
“This will be a very exciting day,” Western NSW Regional Director, Carole McDiarmid said.
“At last, the community has assured us that there will be a suitable number of students to return to classes at Burraga.
“In recent years, we’ve talked regularly with the community and kept the school ready for classes to return.
“Now the community has the opportunity to demonstrate that there is an on-going flow of children to maintain a viable enrolment, and parents have the chance to determine if the educational setting that best suits their children’s learning outcomes and developmental needs.
“Student learning continues to be our principal focus and priority.
“The principal will work closely with parents throughout the year and discuss their children’s educational progress and needs.”
Mrs McDiarmid welcomed the opportunity for the local community to demonstrate Burraga Public School’s viability in what is a positive start to the year.
“The Department of Education and Training has re-opened a number of schools in small communities in recent years, including Marra Creek, Booligal and Carrathool,” she added.
“While the Department considers such factors as isolation and the role of a small school in a rural community, ultimately students’ learning was critical to the decision.
“Our experience elsewhere is that, as schools get down to single-digit enrolments, parents often approach the Department about placing their children in larger neighbouring public schools where there are other students of the same age and gender.
“In the case of Burraga, we have been assured by the community that enrolments will continue to grow, which is why a new teaching principal was appointed and facilities re-opened.”
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