Post by Banjo on Dec 28, 2011 19:57:33 GMT 7
Schools to be quizzed on calls for HSC help
THE NSW Ombudsman is looking into the low proportion of public high school students applying for HSC exam disability provisions compared with private school students.
Private schools accounted for more than half the applications for special provisions this year, despite educating just one in four students with disabilities, figures from the NSW Board of Studies show.
An education official has told the Herald the Ombudsman is looking into why public schools do not make more applications for the special provisions.
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There were 5261 applications from the almost 70,000 students who sat HSC exams and more than 52 per cent were from non-government schools.
Board of Studies figures show 11 per cent of students at independent schools sought special consideration, 6 per cent at government schools and 8.1 per cent in the Catholic system.
Private school students at a number of Christian schools, Anglican colleges and other high-fee schools successfully applied for special provisions at more than three times the rate of public school students.
Provisions include the use of readers or scribes for children who have problems with their sight or with writing; the use of a computer, and extra exam time for breaks or food for diabetics.
Yesterday a spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said the department would ''work with the Ombudsman's office in whatever way it can''.
Christine Cawsey, the president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, which represents principals from public high schools, said she was awaiting the Ombudsman's report.
She said a Board of Studies inquiry conducted in recent years had found many students with disabilities did not apply because they took an alternative HSC course, known as life skills, specially designed for students with intellectual disabilities.
''Until we can see the Ombudsman's report it is hard to tell whether the special provisions are underutilised in our schools,'' Ms Cawsey said.
''There is a view amongst some public school principals that some private schools take great advantage of the special provisions arrangements.
''My experience of public schools is they are making use of special provisions where they are needed.''
Ms Cawsey said an increasing number of students needed special provisions such as a quiet room to work in for mental health problems.
The chairman of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, John Collier, said the provisions were aimed at ''levelling the playing field for those with diagnosed disabilities''.
''They are designed to give equal access to students with disabilities,'' he said. ''I think it is driven more by parents than by the schools themselves.''
A spokeswoman for the NSW Board of Studies said students enrolled in life skills HSC courses were not required to sit exams and for that reason did not require disability provisions.
Disability provisions do not result in any additional marks, which were awarded to 4157 HSC students last year who successfully claimed appeals for illness and misadventure.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/national/education/schools-to-be-quizzed-on-calls-for-hsc-help-20111227-1pbpk.html#ixzz1hpkEdePM
THE NSW Ombudsman is looking into the low proportion of public high school students applying for HSC exam disability provisions compared with private school students.
Private schools accounted for more than half the applications for special provisions this year, despite educating just one in four students with disabilities, figures from the NSW Board of Studies show.
An education official has told the Herald the Ombudsman is looking into why public schools do not make more applications for the special provisions.
Advertisement: Story continues below
There were 5261 applications from the almost 70,000 students who sat HSC exams and more than 52 per cent were from non-government schools.
Board of Studies figures show 11 per cent of students at independent schools sought special consideration, 6 per cent at government schools and 8.1 per cent in the Catholic system.
Private school students at a number of Christian schools, Anglican colleges and other high-fee schools successfully applied for special provisions at more than three times the rate of public school students.
Provisions include the use of readers or scribes for children who have problems with their sight or with writing; the use of a computer, and extra exam time for breaks or food for diabetics.
Yesterday a spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said the department would ''work with the Ombudsman's office in whatever way it can''.
Christine Cawsey, the president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, which represents principals from public high schools, said she was awaiting the Ombudsman's report.
She said a Board of Studies inquiry conducted in recent years had found many students with disabilities did not apply because they took an alternative HSC course, known as life skills, specially designed for students with intellectual disabilities.
''Until we can see the Ombudsman's report it is hard to tell whether the special provisions are underutilised in our schools,'' Ms Cawsey said.
''There is a view amongst some public school principals that some private schools take great advantage of the special provisions arrangements.
''My experience of public schools is they are making use of special provisions where they are needed.''
Ms Cawsey said an increasing number of students needed special provisions such as a quiet room to work in for mental health problems.
The chairman of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, John Collier, said the provisions were aimed at ''levelling the playing field for those with diagnosed disabilities''.
''They are designed to give equal access to students with disabilities,'' he said. ''I think it is driven more by parents than by the schools themselves.''
A spokeswoman for the NSW Board of Studies said students enrolled in life skills HSC courses were not required to sit exams and for that reason did not require disability provisions.
Disability provisions do not result in any additional marks, which were awarded to 4157 HSC students last year who successfully claimed appeals for illness and misadventure.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/national/education/schools-to-be-quizzed-on-calls-for-hsc-help-20111227-1pbpk.html#ixzz1hpkEdePM