AHISA SUBMISSION

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training 

15 June 2020

Inquiry into education in remote and complex environments – supplementary submission

The Committee is examining ‘the performance of the Australian education system in remote and regional areas, its territories and in complex circumstances like drought and post-natural disaster’. AHISA’s first responded to the inquiry in February 2020 (AHISA’s first submission is posted here ).

On 14 May 2020, the Committee called for further submissions to assist an examination of impacts on education provision arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the need for rapid adaptation to home learning as well as the use of online resources.

To inform its supplementary submission, AHISA undertook a survey of its members on the impact on schools and their communities of extreme events – including the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey sought information on:
What schools found to be helpful assistance from governments and non-government sources during or following extreme events 
Government interventions which had negative impacts
The financial stresses experienced by independent schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
How schools assisted families adversely affected by the pandemic
Key elements of the successful provision of home and online learning and teaching during home isolation of students
Elements of remote learning that schools intended to adopt and/or adapt with the return to on-campus provision.

The submission also includes as an appendix the summary report of a survey project undertaken by MMG Education in partnership with AHISA, Teachers, students and parents in participating AHISA members’ schools were surveyed on their responses to remote learning. The summary report highlights areas of very high performance of schools during remote learning and areas for review and consideration.

Supplementary submission to the inquiry into education in remote and complex environments