Shadow education minister Sarah Mitchell speaks with deputy premier Prue Carr over enrolment drops at the Rankins Springs Public School in February 2024. Source: NSW Parliament
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00:00Minister, if a school had a reduction in students of about 30% from one year to the next, would
00:05that concern you?
00:07Well, obviously there's a range of reasons why attendance might fluctuate at particular
00:13schools, but we certainly want to see public school enrolments steadily increasing.
00:20We're interested in that as a government, of course.
00:23Sure.
00:24Are you aware that at Rankin Springs, public school enrolments have fallen from 32 at the
00:28end of last year to 23 at the moment?
00:30Look, I know this might shock you, Ms Mitchell, but I'm not sure of the actual enrolments
00:35at every particular school in the state of New South Wales.
00:39Okay, well that's the advice that I've had.
00:40Are you also aware at Rankin Springs that there's...
00:41I'm sorry, once again, I get that the way that you do things is to abrasively interrupt
00:45me at every point, though I'm trying to answer the question.
00:48This is the community asking me to ask you, Minister, this is actually a really big issue
00:52in that small town.
00:53A bit of respect would be probably a lot edifying.
00:55Alright, are you also aware that there's been significant staff turnover at that school
01:00between last year and this year?
01:02Look, I know there are a range of concerns at Rankin Springs.
01:06I have in fact met with the local member and the PNC, which I've spoken about before.
01:13I'm aware of that.
01:14I will pass the department about what may be happening at Rankin Springs.
01:16That's alright, I'll ask Mr Dizdar later, I've only got a few minutes left with you.
01:20Are you aware that parents have been told not to talk about that school situation publicly
01:24and that a number of staff and former staff are very concerned about what's happening
01:27with the students at that school?
01:29Honestly, in order to make sure that I give the community the right information I'll have
01:33to take on notice.
01:34That's fine.
01:35If you could provide...
01:36I'll have a number of questions to put on notice about this and I would appreciate an
01:39answer.
01:40Thanks.