The NT Council of Government School Organisations met recently and placed three schools on a list in need for modernisation - Katherine High School, Yuendumu and Tennant Creek High School.

The acoustic standards of the old buildings came in for special criticism.

The council said remote students deserve schools to the same standard as Darwin.

Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan said issues around the general state of the buildings had been raised for a long time.

"A lot of schools need to be looked at in the Territory.

"We have asked the government questions on whether they have plans to upgrade schools and the answer is with the budget in the state it is in there is no money for upgrades," Mr Ryan said.

Education Minister Selena Uibo said the Government had made it a priority to reinvest in our schools.

"A major classroom refurbishment, including acoustic upgrades, along with a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) building at Katherine High School have been identified as medium term priority projects in the NT Government's 10 year infrastructure plan (2018-2027).

"In addition, every Territory school will receive $300,000 for infrastructure upgrades during this term of government, as part of our Building Better Schools program and schools that want to upgrade acoustics are supported by the department to do so through this program.

"I will continue to lobby the Federal Government for support and co-investment in infrastructure projects for Territory schools, including acoustic upgrades."

Schools from across every region in the NT met recently at the NT Annual Full Council meeting to advocate on behalf of all Territory children in government schools.

It was widely noted by attendees that considerable infrastructure funding has been expended on Top End schools.

"The council tabled and ratified 27 motions to guide NTCOGSO's work for the next 12 months. Of significance is their call to action of the NT Government to commit budget 20/21 to urgently replacing ageing school infrastructure to Australian standards in the three named schools," president Tabby Fudge said.

"We are calling on the government to prioritise these three school infrastructure upgrades and rebuilds in their next budget to ensure the children of the three schools are able to have the best school education to gain a bright future.

"It is time to invest in capital, our most important capital of all, our human capital; our children".

"Every child in the Northern Territory needs access to a quality education.

"Every child deserves the right to be able to hear their teacher.

"School attendance remains of high concern in the NT with Aboriginal students, on average, only attending 70 per cent of the time for primary and 50 per cent in secondary.

"Parents and families tell us it is because their children cannot hear when they are at school. It is like learning in a muffled fog. They start to misbehave because they are frustrated and feel stupid. Next, they don't bother to turn up.

"Our children struggle to learn, have low attendance and are over represented in youth justice - they can't hear.

"NTCOGSO's hearing advocacy for up to 90% of our remote Indigenous students remains our number one priority. A common response for students with hearing loss, is to disengage - to stop attending school.

"Just imagine if children had a school to be proud to walk into; where the acoustics meet the Australian standard for schools and they have every opportunity to hear their teacher," Ms Fudge said.

The Northern Territory Council of Government School Organisations represents every NT government school with over 19,000 families, their 34,400 children and the school communities that support them.

The NT Government has been approached for comment.

Meanwhile, Isolated Children's Parents' of Australia has welcomed the Federal Government announcement the In Home Care transitional provisions for remote families will be extended for two years until December 31, 2021.

The decision comes following requests from ICPA for this to be considered due to the ongoing issues associated with sourcing educators in remote areas.

ICPA federal president, Alana Moller said, "It is pleasing to see that as a result of ICPA Australia's representations to the Minister and his staff, the challenges for our geographically isolated families have been recognised.

"Access to child care in rural and remote Australia is a major concern for ICPA members and to extend the transitional provisions for IHC educators to earn their qualifications shows that the Federal Government have listened to suggestions made during our discussions."

ICPA (Aust) acknowledges Education Minister Dan Tehan's support of rural and remote families and will continue to work with his office to ensure that the concerns of our members are considered during future decision making.

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