Information continues to be exposed on multiple issues relating to the Australian education system and how it is impacting the children and teachers. The Adelaide Advertiser ran an article on 31/12/2022 showing that 3 out of 4 students suspended from SA Schools are boys.’ This information was released by One Nation MLC Sarah Game, this has once again drawn a spotlight on the education system. Education figures showed almost 200 of those suspended in just one term of 2021 were aged 6 or younger, and that 1 in 3 are struggling with a form of disability.
One National MLC Sarah Game who obtained the information under FOI law has called for a fresh Parliamentary enquiry into the school system, stated ‘Clearly the education system is failing our boys.’ This was also reinforced by Uni SA Health Sciences Professor Leonie Segal citing ‘the gap between girls and boys shows something is seriously wrong with the system. It’s our failure not theirs……. a lot of the issues that give rise to the suspension and exclusions have been identified quite early in life, we need better solutions when these boys are younger.
This problem is also evident across the country with Queensland advocacy for Inclusion reinforcing the South Australian findings, and stating that children are being denied equal access to education. Their report shows that indigenous youth that have a disability are over 8 more times likely to be suspended than that those not in this group. They too are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the use of school disciplinary absences.
It is disappointing to see that the Federal Government is failing to act in an appropriate time frame to resolve .this national problem when it seems that appears that the states are just trying to cover it up and silence those that are victims while getting federal funding.
The petition continues to highlight in the comments that we are receiving that this is a widespread problem, with lived experiences. We need you all to please ask anyone you know, to sign and share this petition. If you have any stories please share as we need to continue to highlight the impact that it is not just having now but what it has done to the lives of the victims.
Exclusion continues to happen, every child has a right to an education, and to be safe while receiving it.