The federal government's review into regional education has a noble aim but it is virtually impossible to see the gap between regional and metropolitan students being closed.
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The review aims to be a wide-reaching look into why one-third (or more) of regional students fail to complete year 12, and why so few of those who do go on to tertiary education.
It's easy to acknowledge there is a problem and most people acknowledge one of the biggest factors is money. Fixing it is so much harder.
There are so many barriers for regional students it is virtually impossible to overcome them all. The next Albert Einstein, Bill Gates or Elon Musk could be growing up in Orange, Bathurst or Dubbo but may never reach their potential.
Firstly, like it or not, a student attending a regional public school is going to struggle to match the results of one at a wealthy Sydney private school.
Unfortunately, the disadvantage starts from an early age. One only has to look at NAPLAN results. One can bet no Sydney private schools will have results in the ‘substantially below national average’ category. But it is a fact of life for many regional public schools.
Then there is culture. If no one else in their family has ever attended university and isn't encouraging them, what incentive is there for a student to strive for it?
Even if those challenges are overcome, there is the massive financial barrier. It costs tens of thousands of dollars a year to attend university if living away from home. That is not even factoring in the study costs, which can be covered by a HECS loan.
If there is one student whose parents live a short bus ride from university and who doesn't need a job, and another who has to leave friends and family and juggle a part-time job with their studies to make ends meet, which is going to find university easier?
Many students coming from struggling households just find it too hard. And who could blame them?
NAPLAN results do not show the whole story. But they indicate an on-going problem.
The schools, teachers or students in regional areas do their best to bridge the divide in as many ways as they can. But, as with so many aspects of life, it always comes back to money. And whether the government will spend it or not.
