“That St George Branch would like to thank ICPA Qld for lobbying for the establishment of state run Agricultural High Schools with co-educational boarding facilities, combining academic studies with hands-on practical learning in all aspects of agriculture and continue to support the ongoing work in this area.”
Many families have no other option than to send their children to boarding school for their secondary education. The establishment of more state-run boarding schools would provide those families with more options for secondary education. Agricultural High Schools that combine academic studies with hands-on practical learning would increase the next generations’ interest and skills/ knowledge in the industry. They will also provide a pathway for those students who are not interested in following academic studies to university.
Community members have informed St George High School that enrolments have decreased due to the lack of suitable boarding for students since the private boarding facilities closed many years ago and families have been sending children away to private schools that offer boarding. St George SHS, an agricultural school of excellence, has developed agricultural programming with strong community and industry ties such as the shearing program and the Agriculture Water and Environment program (AWE) program. They have utilised the local industries to ensure that the practices and knowledge is current and relevant to the industries and students can have a pathway to meaningful employment. A boarding facility at St George would allow families to board their students closer to home so they can return to the properties for the weekends.
