❓ Hon. Sally Talbot asks about asylum seeker children's access to WA public schools. The Minister acknowledges the positive impact of asylum seeker students at Leonora DHS, but states that none are currently enrolled and funding arrangements with the Commonwealth are delaying further action.
AnsweredQoN 819Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ASYLUM
SEEKERS — SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
819. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Education:
I refer to recent calls to let asylum seeker children go to
public schools in WA.
(1) Is the
minister aware that staff at Leonora District High School count last year's
attendance of teenage asylum seekers as one of the best things that ever
happened to the school?
(2) How many asylum seeker children are currently attending
school in WA?
(3) How many asylum seeker children are not attending school
in WA?
(4) What provision is the government making for the education
of these children?
SEEKERS — SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
819. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Education:
I refer to recent calls to let asylum seeker children go to
public schools in WA.
(1) Is the
minister aware that staff at Leonora District High School count last year's
attendance of teenage asylum seekers as one of the best things that ever
happened to the school?
(2) How many asylum seeker children are currently attending
school in WA?
(3) How many asylum seeker children are not attending school
in WA?
(4) What provision is the government making for the education
of these children?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) I note the
comment by the honourable member that some staff at Leonora District High
School consider the enrolments of teenage asylum seekers to be a highlight at
the school, and I do not dispute that.
(2) None.
(3) The state
government does not have information on the number of children of asylum
seekers not attending public schools in Western Australia.
(4) The state
government will make every effort to accommodate these children and their
special educational needs where practical, but would expect the commonwealth
government to meet the costs. Changes at the federal level have caused delays
in finalising arrangements between the state government and the Department of
Immigration and Border Protection on an appropriate funding arrangement. The
state government remains supportive of children of asylum seekers participating
in schooling, and will continue to progress the arrangements when the
Department of Immigration and Border Protection is in a position to recommence
discussions.
question.
(1) I note the
comment by the honourable member that some staff at Leonora District High
School consider the enrolments of teenage asylum seekers to be a highlight at
the school, and I do not dispute that.
(2) None.
(3) The state
government does not have information on the number of children of asylum
seekers not attending public schools in Western Australia.
(4) The state
government will make every effort to accommodate these children and their
special educational needs where practical, but would expect the commonwealth
government to meet the costs. Changes at the federal level have caused delays
in finalising arrangements between the state government and the Department of
Immigration and Border Protection on an appropriate funding arrangement. The
state government remains supportive of children of asylum seekers participating
in schooling, and will continue to progress the arrangements when the
Department of Immigration and Border Protection is in a position to recommence
discussions.
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