ERO seeks new set of standards

By STUART DYE

The Education Review Office has recommended national standards be introduced for teaching some of the country's most disaffected teenagers.

Students between 13 and 15 who have been repeatedly kicked out of school have been able to join the Government's alternative education programme since 1997.

An ERO report into the programme concluded that schools and community providers would benefit from a more formal structure.

"The establishment of national standards for the delivery of alternative education programmes would be of great benefit to both schools and providers, and would lead to improved quality of these programmes," said chief review officer Karen Sewell.

Good-practice guidelines for schools and providers would also be valuable in assessing student progress and achievement, she said.

Alternative education (AE) caters for students who are verified as "alienated" from the schooling system. They are re-enrolled at a school to attend an associated AE programme, either on or off the school site.

The schools may contract providers to offer these programmes, with the aim that students will either return to mainstream education or move on to tertiary training or employment at the appropriate age.

Off-site programmes may be community-based or be part of a private training establishment.

There are more than 3000 teenagers in the project, each costing the Government $11,100, with their needs met by 200 providers.

The ERO report found programmes were being delivered by people with experience in working with adolescents, and also identified some excellent schemes which supported students' re-engagement with the education system and their own learning.

"However, there were also some programmes that were not good enough," said Ms Sewell.

"This is where establishing national standards and developing good practice guidelines would be immensely beneficial."