Rural-City Education Gap Widens: Figures
Steve Lillebuen, Sydney Morning Herald, February 18, 2010
More students in rural Victoria are dropping out of high school as the gap widens between country and city schools, new figures reveal.
Regional schools have reported a five per cent increase in high school dropouts over the past seven years, according to education department figures.
At the same time, the number of Melbourne students staying in school has remained fairly steady.
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Only 67.2 per cent of rural students last year remained at school until year 12, compared to 85.8 per cent in greater Melbourne.
The retention rates suggest the divide between regional and metropolitan Victoria is growing with a 13.6 per cent discrepancy in 2002 jumping up to 18.6 per cent by 2009.
