NSW public schools should abandon traditional timetables and stagger their starting times to deal with an expected explosion in student numbers, the state's top infrastructure body says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has not ruled out the move, and the business lobby says it would help reduce road and transport congestion. However the teachers' union says the government should build new infrastructure, not "cram" more students into schools.
About 173,000 extra students are expected to attend NSW public schools by 2031, a 23 per cent increase on present enrolments.
Infrastructure NSW says the boom, heavily concentrated in metropolitan Sydney, means schools must be used more intensively.
Advertisement
Premier Mike Baird last week promised $1 billion worth of education measures should the government be re-elected in March and its $20 billion electricity sale proceeds as planned. The government will also invite the private sector to help provide school assets.
Infrastructure NSW wants the education department to go further, by promoting "staggered school starting times potentially increasing the number of classes taught per facility".
NSW public schools can set their own start and finish times. Decisions are made by principals in consultation with school communities.
Some schools have already taken up the option. Merrylands East Public School's day runs from 8am to 1.15pm, with a "homework club" until 3pm.
The timetable was introduced last year to capitalise on children's morning learning capacity and avoid afternoon fatigue. Most parents reportedly supported the change, however some opposed it.
The Education Department is preparing a long-term strategy to meet the forecast growth in school enrolments and Infrastructure NSW said staggered school start times should be promoted in the plan.
A spokesman for Mr Piccoli did not say if the government backed the proposal, saying it was waiting for the new strategy.
A department spokesman said any changes to start and finish times "would need to ensure that the changed schedule is of benefit to students and caters for all family needs and situations".
Opponents of staggered school start times say it would inconvenience working families and increase demand for childcare spaces.
NSW Teachers' Federation president Maurie Mulheron said the measure could be used to co-ordinate with public transport or help students access a greater variety of subjects.
But he said staggered start times should not be about "piling more kids onto the site in order to stop investing in infrastructure at schools … I don't think many parents would find that satisfactory".
Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe suggested high schools could start an hour later, saying it would help alleviate congestion by addressing "everybody's desire to be in the same place at the same time".
NSW Labor's education spokesman Ryan Park said changes to school starting times must be co-ordinated with childcare and before- and after-school care, and be supported by the school community.
SMH
